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For a change this time, it is not Pakistan but their opponents who are dogged by injury problems ahead of the series opening Test here at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. The news coming from the Indian camp is not very positive, as three of their key players including one-day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni are doubtful for the first Test.

According to Indian team physio John Gloster, pacers Rudra Pratap Singh and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth are also suffering from injuries which seem serious enough as the Indian cricket board has summoned discarded medium pacer Munaf Patel as back-up for the opening Test. Patel is currently in Dharamshala for a local Ranji Trophy match.

According to details, Dhoni twisted his ankle during the final one-dayer against Pakistan in Jaipur on Sunday. Sreesanth, who took three wickets in the match, sustained a shoulder injury in the game while Singh is nursing a side strain.

Gloster said that the players’ injuries are not very serious but added that the trio may have to sit out of the Delhi Test as a precautionary measure. However, Dhoni has said that he is feeling much better and appeared confident to make it in the playing eleven for the first Test. “I’m feeling much better that before and hopefully it’ll be OK,” Dhoni said during India’s training session on Tuesday afternoon.

Dhoni, who was overlooked for Test captaincy by the India in spite of a successful stint at the One-day International (ODI) and T20 skipper, took part in the home team’s training session at the Kotla. He had a 25-minute wicket-keeping training session and also ran around the ground with his teammates. He showed little or no signs of a painful ankle that dogged him during the final one-dayer in Jaipur.

Source:Cricket News