Sehwag eyes comeback for England tour

India batsman underwent shoulder surgery during IPL season.

NEW DELHI:

India opener Virender Sehwag is hopeful of recovering from injury in time for the high-profile tour of England starting in July.

Sehwag, captain of the Delhi Daredevils franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), underwent an operation on his shoulder in London last week and has already been ruled out of India’s tour of West Indies beginning June 4.

“I think I will able to play the series in England,” said the prolific batsman. “That’s the reason why I stopped playing the IPL and rushed to London to get my shoulder operated.”

India are set to play four Tests and five One-Day Internationals (ODI) in England, with the first Test beginning at Lord’s on July 21.

Sehwag, 32, played 11 games during the current IPL season before pulling out of the Twenty20 competition following his side’s defeat by Mumbai Indians.

Delhi Daredevils are out of the reckoning for a place in the semi-finals, having suffered nine defeats in 13 matches.

The flamboyant batsman, who has scored 7,694 Test runs and 7,760 in ODIs, said he was looking to regain full fitness inside eight weeks.

“I will return to London after six weeks for a check-up,” said Sehwag. “I should be fit in six to eight weeks. Going by the rehabilitation programme designed for me I should be okay. I am already feeling the difference each day.”



Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2011.