India’s Sehwag fit despite ribs blow

India’s in-form opener Virender Sehwag will be fit for the crucial World Cup clash with England despite receiving a painful blow to the ribs in the nets on Friday.

The hard-hitting opener was struck by a delivery from a net bowler and did not bat again.

“A thorough examination has been done and a scan is not required. There is no major worry and he is fit enough to play,” Indian team manager Ranjib Biswal said.

India, who meet England in the day-night match on Sunday, defeated Bangladesh by 87 runs in their opener in Dhaka last Saturday.

Sehwag was instrumental in setting up his team’s victory, hammering a blazing 175 off 140 balls with the help of five sixes and 14 fours. He has so far scored 7,555 runs in 229 one-day internationals.

India had already been sweating over the fitness of fellow opener Sachin Tendulkar who needed a scan of his left knee after the win against Bangladesh where he made 28 Tendulkar, 37, had only recently recovered from a hamstring strain which forced him to miss three games of the recent five-match one-day series against South Africa.

BANGALORE, AFP