Sehwag out of IPL, Windies tour

Prolific opener Virender Sehwag was Monday ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League with a shoulder injury, depriving the event of its current top scorer. Sehwag, captain of the Delhi Daredevils franchise, has decided to undergo surgery as soon as possible and could also miss India’s tour of the West Indies starting next month.

“We will miss Virender Sehwag as he has been the pillar for Daredevils,” P.B. Vanchi, director of GMR Sports, owners of the franchise, said in a statement.

“But we also know how important it is for Sehwag to get the surgery done and be fit for future matches. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope he will soon be back in action for both Daredevils and India.”

Delhi, seventh in the points table and almost out of contention for the knockout round, will be led by Australia’s James Hopes in their remaining three league matches of the Twenty20 competition.

Sehwag, 32, leads the IPL batting charts with 424 runs from 11 matches, the highlight being a sizzling century against Deccan Chargers on Thursday. The flamboyant batsman has been troubled by the injury for some time and was declared fit for the World Cup only after undergoing intensive rehabilitation in Bangalore.

Though he did not bowl during India’s title-winning World Cup campaign, Sehwag finished seventh in the run charts, including a century in the opening game against Bangladesh.

Sehwag has scored 7,694 Test runs and another 7,760 in one-dayers, averaging more than a run a ball in the shorter format.

India are scheduled to play one Twenty20, five one-day internationals and three Test matches during the West Indies tour in June-July.

NEW DELHI, AFP