Kings XI Punjab head coach Virender Sehwag will return to the cricket field one more time, according to his IPL team Kings XI Punjab. KXIP announced on Sunday that the batting legend Virender Sehwag will be back in action in their first IPL 2018 match against Delhi Daredevils at Mohali on April 8. The release said that Sehwag will come out of retirement and will open the innings in the absence of Aaron Finch. It also said that the decision was taken at the team preparatory camp in Mohali after a long deliberation by captain Ravichandran Ashwin, coach Brad Hodge, and the team management. Virender Sehwag, who is Director of Cricket Operations, was also part of the discussions.
Sehwag was last seen batting at the recent Ice Cricket matches in St Moritz. He scored 62 off 31 in the first match and 46 off 22 balls in the second match there. However, the news was met with appropriate skepticism by fans, as it comes on April 1, the April fools day.
Kings XI Punjab's Yuvraj Singh was the first to comment saying 'he was looking forward to seeing Virender Sehwag play again'.
Many fans were quick to comment that it was April fool joke by the IPL franchise. KXIP Punjab tweeted the news of Sehwag's comeback on Twitter. Ever since Finch announced his unavailability in Punjab’s opening encounter owing to his marriage, the team has been pondering over the right top order combination. Aaron Finch is certain to miss the start of the IPL 2018 as his wedding date clashes with Kings XI Punjab's opener on 8 April. Finch will be tying the knot on 7 April, the same day when the 11th edition of the IPL kicks off.