NOTTINGHAM: One wonders

what’s frostier at the moment, the Indian captains relationship with the media or the Nottingham weather.

After staging a 'unity parade and leading a team walkout at a press conference following TOIs June 5 report of a rift between him and the injured Virender Sehwag, M S Dhoni had another run-in with the media on Tuesday.

Sparks flew between him and journalists as Dhoni refused to confirm or deny Sehwags injury status, even as rumours were doing the rounds that the opener had been asked to return. This led to an altercations between the captain and scribes, with Dhoni, at one point, even furiously asking if the media was accusing him of selectively leaking stories.

Even as the drama was unfolding, a BCCI press release confirmed that a grade-I tear in the shoulder had ruled Sehwag out of the tournament

. Dinesh Karthik will be his replacement. Sehwag will return after consulting medical experts in London, added the release.

After TOI carried a report on talk of tension between the captain and his deputy, Dhoni had paraded the team before the media in a show of unity.

On Tuesday, Sehwag batted for just an over-and-a-half at the nets before leaving — a sure pointer that he hadn’t recovered from injury. So when Dhoni arrived at the pre-match media briefing, alone this time, the first question he faced was on Sehwag’s fitness.

His response was a cold, "I don’t want to say anything on fitness issues. BCCI will be issuing a release."

June 3: Captain Dhoni is ambiguous about Sehwag’s shoulder injury, says, "To be honest I don’t know (when he'll be fit." He is more optimistic about Zaheer's recovery
June 5: TOI reports stand-off between Dhoni and Sehwag over the latter hiding his injury
June 5: Later that day, entire Indian team is paraded in 'show of unity' at routine pre-match media meet
June 5: Coach Gary Kirsten confirms Sehwag has grade-I tear in his shoulder which occurred during IPL
June 8: Sehwag skips nets again. Team India continues to cold shoulder media after rift reports
June 9: Team announces Sehwag will fly back. Dhoni refuses to comment on Viru’s injury

Source: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com