COLOMBO: The extent of Virender Sehwag's finger injury, and whether the opener will retain his place in the team given the need to field an effective bowling combination, is the issue vexing Team India at the moment.
The star batsman was "requested to rest" by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the game against England on Sunday night, although the opener is struggling for runs and the extra match practice in an inconsequential game would have helped.
On Tuesday, as the Indians geared up for the Super 8 campaign by going through a rigorous training session at the Colts Cricket Club here, Sehwag, who took part in the fielding drills, chose not to bat at all.
For almost the entire time, Sehwag sat in the tent before being taken for a routine 'random' dope test by the International Cricket Council (ICC) along with off-spinners R Ashwin and Harbhajan.
Incidentally, allrounder Irfan Pathan, who did a poor job as opener as Viru's replacement on Sunday, had an extended session with the bat in the nets.
There has been a bit of a fitness concern about Sehwag after he was hit on the knuckles by a short ball by a net bowler on Friday at the P Sara Oval. The 'hit' looked to have hurt him quite a bit but the batsman recovered soon enough to take a few throwdowns later in that session.
Was Sehwag taking it easy on Tuesday to avoid aggravating that injury? RN Baba, the media manager of the Indian team here, confirmed to TOI that "Viru is 200 per cent fit". To buttress his point, Baba even pointed out the fact that the Delhi dasher "did some fielding practice" earlier in the session too. So then, what was it that prevented Sehwag from taking strike in the nets?
When you have come into the tournament in average form, played just one game and scored just eight against a side like Afghanistan, you would want to feel the ball hitting the middle of your blade again in the nets.
He has now given enough food for thought to conspiracy theorists here who say Viru is now 'sulking' after being dropped against England. Dhoni had said after that game he "requested" some senior players to take a breather.
India still have a couple of days of training left before they play Australia at the Premadasa on Friday night in their first Super 8 game. If Sehwag continues to skip nets, there is a possibility he isn't getting back his spot in the final XI any time soon and India will continue to open with Pathan and play five bowlers.
India still need Sehwag at the top. Against the quality pace attacks of Australia, South Africa and Pakistan, you need a batsman of his class to gain early advantage.
The star batsman was "requested to rest" by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the game against England on Sunday night, although the opener is struggling for runs and the extra match practice in an inconsequential game would have helped.
On Tuesday, as the Indians geared up for the Super 8 campaign by going through a rigorous training session at the Colts Cricket Club here, Sehwag, who took part in the fielding drills, chose not to bat at all.
For almost the entire time, Sehwag sat in the tent before being taken for a routine 'random' dope test by the International Cricket Council (ICC) along with off-spinners R Ashwin and Harbhajan.
Incidentally, allrounder Irfan Pathan, who did a poor job as opener as Viru's replacement on Sunday, had an extended session with the bat in the nets.
There has been a bit of a fitness concern about Sehwag after he was hit on the knuckles by a short ball by a net bowler on Friday at the P Sara Oval. The 'hit' looked to have hurt him quite a bit but the batsman recovered soon enough to take a few throwdowns later in that session.
Was Sehwag taking it easy on Tuesday to avoid aggravating that injury? RN Baba, the media manager of the Indian team here, confirmed to TOI that "Viru is 200 per cent fit". To buttress his point, Baba even pointed out the fact that the Delhi dasher "did some fielding practice" earlier in the session too. So then, what was it that prevented Sehwag from taking strike in the nets?
When you have come into the tournament in average form, played just one game and scored just eight against a side like Afghanistan, you would want to feel the ball hitting the middle of your blade again in the nets.
He has now given enough food for thought to conspiracy theorists here who say Viru is now 'sulking' after being dropped against England. Dhoni had said after that game he "requested" some senior players to take a breather.
India still have a couple of days of training left before they play Australia at the Premadasa on Friday night in their first Super 8 game. If Sehwag continues to skip nets, there is a possibility he isn't getting back his spot in the final XI any time soon and India will continue to open with Pathan and play five bowlers.
India still need Sehwag at the top. Against the quality pace attacks of Australia, South Africa and Pakistan, you need a batsman of his class to gain early advantage.
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