The Indian cricket team on Friday received a huge blow with vice-captain Virender Sehwag being rendered unfit to play the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka staring here on Saturday.
Sehwag, laid down by a severe throat infection and high fever, has been advised by doctors not to take part in the match to be played at his home ground of Ferozeshah Kotla.
The Delhi batsman missed the team practice session and was admitted into a local hospital on Thursday afternoon.
Although his health has improved since then, the medical opinion was that he should avoid physical stress for the next five or six days.
"He (Sehwag) has not been able to swallow food or water and was therefore put on intravenous medication," S P Byotra, a senior doctor of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told reporters.
The cricketer's health improved after overnight treatment and he took a soft diet for breakfast on Friday, the doctor added.
"His body temperature was also near normal. But if you ask me whether he should be playing tomorrow, my advise will be that he should avoid the game and take rest for at least five to six days," Byotra said.
{{/usCountry}}"His body temperature was also near normal. But if you ask me whether he should be playing tomorrow, my advise will be that he should avoid the game and take rest for at least five to six days," Byotra said.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, captain Rahul Dravid too missed the match-eve nets session at the Palam grounds.
He was however expected to be fit to play.
Coach Greg Chappell refused to speculate on who would lead the team in case both the captain and vice-captain were not available for the match.
"I don't want to answer that. It is a hypothetical question. If and when that happens, we will deal with that," he said.
Mohammad Kaif went away half way through the practice session. The team management played it down, saying there was no issue there.
"Kaif went through all the drills. He is perfectly fine," team media manager Wg Cdr Baladitya said.