With a long season awaiting Team India, the Champions League T20 would be a brilliant 'practice pitch' for Sehwag to find his stroke back. But an ankle injury had almost ruined that possibility.
However, the starter had a reason to smile when he was declared well for the D opening CLT20 game against the Delhi Daredevil and Knight Riders, at Centurion, on Saturday.
On Thursday, Sehwag allegedly gave a fitness test. He not only clears that scrutiny, he also went on to play in the Daredevils' warm-up game, against CLT20 competitors the Sydney Sixes.
An agency report, however, tinted a very different picture. As per that report, Sehwag undergo a fitness test on Thursday under the attentive eyes of Kirk Russell.
Virender Sehwag today appears for a health test which was conducted by Kirk Russell. He cleared the test and was declared fit to play in the match from the start, the agency report quote a Daredevils official as saying.
Sehwag was at first doubtful for the CLT20, after straining a sinew in his left ankle during India's World T20 Super Eights match against South Africa, in Colombo, on October 2. He had gone off the field at some stage in the Proteas innings and did not return.
Sehwag has been troubled by health issues over the past one year. After the 2011 World Cup, he had late a shoulder surgery, played the IPL and then next missed India's tour of the West Indies and half of the Test series in England.
Then, former this year, towards the end of the Australia tour, he had back spasms. That was the reason for the selectors to rest him for the Asia Cup.
Sehwag will not captain the Daredevils at the CLT20 since he had asked the permit to relieve him of the blame so he could think on his batting.
The Delhi Daredevils managed only 107 against the Big Bash champions. Delhi Daredevils captain Jayawardene and star starter David Warner didn't play the game. While Warner was rested, Jayawardene had an appointment with the dentist and was unavailable for the match.
The Knights, too, had a perform game on the day. But their match against South African side High veld Lions was washed out robbing Gautam Gambler's side some much-needed match practice.
