Ind-Eng series: Virendra Sehwag not named in ODI team

India’s greatest impact player ever is now perceived as a weak link in one-dayers. Virender Sehwag, who holds the highest individual score in ODIs, wasn’t named in India’s 15-man squad for the first three matches against England. How the mighty have fallen! The move doesn’t come as a surprise.

The national selectors’ intent could be gauged from the fact that Sehwag, according to a source, was informed well in advance that he wouldn’t be considered for the final ODI against Pakistan.

India had already lost the series, and one Sehwag special in an insignificant match would have made the selectors’ task doubly harder. His game has been rusty in recent times and persisting with him would have meant depriving an in-form Ajinkya Rahane of a fair run.

Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma, no less inconsistent in recent times, have been spared the axe for now. Cheteshwar Pujara has been rewarded for a breezy double ton against Madhya Pradesh.

Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore reportedly expressed surprise at Sehwag’s omission from Sunday’s game. He was keen to know how India could drop their only match-winner.