New Delhi, Dec 9: India suffered a huge blow ahead of the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka with an indisposed Virender Sehwag being ruled out, leaving the hosts grappling with the problem of finding a new opening combination for the crucial tie beginning at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here tomorrow.

Doctors have advised Sehwag, suffering from throat infection and fever, against playing the match, which means that the home team were left with less than 24 hours to find a replacement at the top of the order.

With Gautam Gambhir being the only other specialist opener in the squad, the team management has no other option but to promote a middle order batsman to take up the opening responsibility.

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There was fitness concern surrounding captain Rahul Dravid who was rested from the match-eve nets at the Palam grounds but the team management is hopeful that the captain, suffering from fever, will be fit. 

Coach Greg Chappell refused to debate on who would lead the team with both captain and vice-captain down with illness. "It is a hypothetical question. I don't want to answer that.

If and when that happens, we will deal with it," he said. Mohammad Kaif also went away half way through the practice session but the team management said there was no issue there. 

"Kaif went through all the drills, he is perfectly fine. He took the permission of the coach before leaving," team media manager Wg Cdr Baladitya said. (Agencies)

Published: Friday, December 09, 2005