Karthik Called up as Cover for Dhoni

Kanpur: Wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has been rushed to Kanpur after the Indian team management asked for a last minute back-up for MS Dhoni ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka beginning on Tuesday. Dhoni reportedly hurt his finger during the Ahmedabad Test which ended in a dull draw last Friday.

Karthik, the Tamil Nadu captain, was in Dharamshala for the Ranji Trophy Super League match against Himachal Pradesh when he got the call on Sunday afternoon. He last played a Test for India in March, against New Zealand in Napier, after Dhoni opted out due to back spasms.

Dhoni had arrived at Green Park on Sunday without any taped fingers nor did he seem in any sort of pain. He batted his full quota during training, hit powerful, flat-bat strokes, and enthusiastically bowled seam-up immediately after removing his batting pads.

Team sources indicated Dhoni was most likely going to be declared fit on the eve of the Test and there was a chance Karthik might have to rush back to join his Tamil Nadu team-mates on Monday. Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha too could be released for Hyderabad's Ranji Trophy match.

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