Sehwag could be back vs Lanka

If sources are to be believed, then Sehwag will make it to the middle-order of the Indian team and not his usual opening slot which is expected to be retained by Sourav Ganguly and Robin Utthappa.

8220;He is one of our leading batsmen in one-dayers and has won India matches in the past. The break 8212; when he was dropped 8212; was to allow him to regain his composure and form. We will undoubtedly be trying out all the options available,8221; a senior selector said.

The team for the first two one-dayers against Sri Lanka will be named on February 3 at Mumbai and it is then that the selectors are expected to take the final decision in this regard. 8220;He is certain to be picked, because unless we do that, how do we test him?8221; the selector said.

Sehwag, according to the few who8217;ve been with him in time of distress, is on a low after he was stripped of the vice-captaincy in South Africa. 8220;He was already in poor form, and taking away the post in the middle of the series left him further demoralized,8217;8217; said one of Sehwag8217;s close aides.

Sehwag8217;s selection could be a huge surprise, given the fact that he8217;s still not struck any exceptional form. Instead, players who got the opportunity in his absence Gautam Gambhir, Utthappa and Dinesh Kaarthick have left no opportunity to grab their slots.

Since returning from South Africa, Sehwag played just one Ranji Trophy match for Delhi in which he scored a century 106 at a strike rate of 79.6.

Delhi made an early exit from the tournament and following that, Sehwag has been busy playing practice matches in Delhi in trial matches in which he managed scores of 49 and 1 in two games.

He, though, has been spending long hours in the nets with his long-time coach A.N. Sharma. 8220;He has regularly batted for an hour or sometimes a little longer at the nets, and faced a battery of 7-8 bowlers. The motive has been to help him stay longer at the wicket and sort out the manner of his dismissals,8217;8217; Sharma told The Indian Express.

Sehwag and Sharma, on a priority basis, went through a series of videos to analyse his dismissals in the last one year which, according to both, were recurring in similar fashion.

8220;At the nets, it was decided that he would stay there for as long as possible without offering his wicket. Gradually, from getting out four or three times per net session, he had improved to getting out just once or sometimes never. That was certainly an improvement,8217;8217; was Sharma8217;s verdict.

The coach reckons that in Sehwag8217;s case, it is all about his confidence. 8220;Once that is back, put him anywhere in the batting order and he will click,8217;8217; says Sharma.

Even as the aggressive batsman prepares to make the comeback, he and his coach have come to a decision that there will be no change in the nature of his game. They feel that he got his 300 playing in that fashion and there is certainly no need to curb that instinct.