Champions Trophy is my target: Sehwag

“I am hoping to play in the Champions Trophy. My rehabilitation is going well,” said the Delhi marauder on the sidelines of a book release function here on Friday evening. The Champions Trophy will be held in South Africa from September 22.

Sehwag sustained the shoulder injury during the semifinal of the Indian Premier League in South Africa in May while captaining the Delhi Daredevils against the Deccan Chargers.

He was in the Indian squad for the World T20 in England but could not play any part because of the injury to his right shoulder that needed surgery.

Sehwag underwent surgery on June 11 after a lesion was identified in the injured shoulder, and he was ruled out of action for between 12 and 16 weeks. The lesion was expected to heal in six weeks.

Indian team physio Nitin Patel was given the task of monitoring Sehwag’s rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

Sehwag said he will start batting practice from the first week of September and is now able to lift 10 kg with his injured shoulder. “But I can’t throw or bowl yet,” he said. As a first step towards a recall into the Indian team, Sehwag, who has played in 69 Tests and 205 one-dayers, is to visit the NCA on August 15.

“I am set to go to Bangalore on August 15 (for assessment of his progress from injury),” said the ace batsman, who has 26 hundreds to his credit in Tests and one-dayers combined.