Injuries to India’s key personnel has hampered its preparations for the World Cup somewhat. They haven’t reached the somewhat worrying proportions that, for example, Australia are facing (Symonds — bicep tear; Brett Lee — ankle ligaments; Ponting — spinal inflamations). Having said that, it is probably giving Rahul Dravid and the team management a few needless headaches, as the final touches are being put to India’s World Cup assault.
Ajit Agarkar has been a bit flat since Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy victory. A flu has kept him in and out of the game. Zaheer Khan had a few niggles that kept him out of a game. Yuvraj Singh, a man who desperately needs some quality time out in the middle, has been carrying a sore back. Irfan Pathan has also sat out the last 2 games through stiffness.
The latest is a back stiffness that will keep Sachin Tendulkar out of the Vizag ODI decider against Sri Lanka on Feb 17th.
The good news is that Munaf Patel is fit and is bowling well.
With Sachin Tendulkar, Ajit Agarkar and Irfan Pathan injured, the team may have to go with the remaining players for the decider at Vizag.
Saurav Ganguly, Vierender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Karthik, M. S. Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, S. Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, Zaheer Khan (with Anil Kumble as 12th man).
This assumes that Yuvraj Singh is still fit to play.
— Mohan
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