Mumbai, India: December 7, 2007 – There were problems in Pakistan team in the last match and now it seems to be India’ turn, Vice-captain MS Dhoni’s participation is doubtful in the final test, doctors have recommended 5-day rest for him. If he misses, Yuvraj Singh may replace him.

Dinesh Karthik will have to do double duty as wicketkeeper and opening batsman, a role he performed on India's tour of South Africa in the last Test at Cape Town. Then, too, Dhoni was injured.

Yuvraj's exclusion has been criticised by many with experts believing this is the right time to include him in the Test XI. Now, the left-hander gets a chance to settle the debate.

Karthik too will be under pressure because Gujarat's Parthiv Patel, who too is a 'keeper-cum-opening batsman, is breathing down his neck. Dhoni was an unlikely starter for the first Test at Delhi due to an ankle injury. But he recovered in time.  

The fight for the third opener's slot on the Australia tour is between Gautam Gambhir and Aakash Chopra, both of whom have been named in the list of 24 probables.

But it is learnt that left-handed Gambhir's consistent showing, and the fact that the Delhi player has been in the Test reserves for over a year, will earn him a recall yet again, it is believed.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the reason Virender Sehwag's name was missing from the list of 24 probables for the Australia tour was his recent miserable run with the bat. The Delhi captain has been struggling for runs in the Ranji Trophy.  

Chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar is unlikely to travel to Bangalore to watch the third Test, at least for the first couple of days. According to a senior board official, Vengsarkar and president Sharad Pawar are likely to meet any time during the weekend, delaying the chief selector's trip.

http://cricket.indiatimes.com/Dhoni_doubtful_for_Bangalore_Test/articleshow/2602300.cms