7 December 2007

Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar is an injury doubt ahead of the third and final Test against Pakistan in Bangalore, which starts on Saturday due to a knee injury.

"Sachin, while fielding in the Kolkata test, aggravated a knee problem from the ODI series," India captain Anil Kumble told a news conference on Friday.

"His condition continues to improve, however, should he have failed to have recover completely in the morning (of the match) we feel it wise to call for a back-up."

Left-handed batsman Gautam Gambhir has been called up as cover.

India are also sweating on the fitness of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury he first aggravated in the one-day series, which India won 3-2.

"We were initially thinking of resting him for this game but due the new development about Sachin we are not sure about it," said Kumble, who will be leading the country for the first time in his home city of Bangalore.

If Dhoni misses out, then Yuvraj Singh would come into the side with Dinesh Karthik taking over as wicket-keeper.

India have already had an entire pace attack ruled out through injury and had to call up Irfan Pathan and Vikram Singh as emergency cover.

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