Virender Sehwag seeks Glenn McGrath's guidance

Sehwag and Gambhir at a team training session last November

Out of form Indian cricketers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag are trying for solutions to win back their places in the national team.

While Gambhir tries his hand at county cricket for Essex, Sehwag has enrolled himself at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai to upgrade his skills against pace bowling.

Times of India claims that Sehwag made a hush-hush trip to the pace clinic where Australian legend Glenn McGrath is director of coaching. With their showdowns on the field a thing of the past, McGrath will mentor Sehwag during his time at the clinic.

The batsman turned up at the clinic to increase his odds of joining the team on the South Africa tour. Sehwag, who turns 35 on October 20, has been benched since March 2013. The Delhi blaster has struggled to find his form, and except for a 95 not out against Mumbai Indians in the IPL in April, Sehwag has brought little to the table.

Reports said that Sehwag declined a stint with Essex this summer. This made way for Gambhir, whose time at Essex (54 runs in four innings) has been largely unimpressive. Both Sehwag and Gambhir are battling for the third opener’s spot even though Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara and Murli Vijay have been preferred by selectors in recent times.

Vijay’s position looks doubtful if you analyze his current form. This means that there is a silver lining for Sehwag and Gambhir.

Sehwag will take full advantage of McGrath’s guidance with him being the best pacer around. Sehwag will keep his senses peeled as he faces the best talents from India and abroad at the Chennai academy. Sehwag, who debuted for India with a 105 against South Africa at Bloemfontein in November 2001, will definitely boost his odds.