Manish Pandey in doubt for Ranji season after hernia operation

Manish Pandey, the Karnataka batsman, could miss the rest of the Ranji Trophy season after undergoing a hernia operation in Bangalore. Pandey scored his second first-class double-century in Karnataka's third-round match against Mumbai at the Brabourne Stadium but felt pain during the innings, as well as while fielding later in the drawn match. He consulted doctors on his return to Bangalore, was advised an immediate hernia surgery and will now need four to six weeks of rest.

"It's really unfortunate," Karnataka's chairman of selectors J Abhiram told Deccan Herald. "He was in great form and was being noticed by everyone. The injury couldn't have come at a worse time."

Pandey was the fifth highest run-getter in last year's Ranji Trophy, with 629 runs from eight matches including two centuries. He was prolific during the Duleep Trophy too, scoring 329 runs in three innings, including his maiden first-class double-hundred.

Karun Nair, a 19-year-old batsman yet to make his first-class debut, will be Pandey's replacement for Karnataka's next match, against Saurashtra from November 29. Nair has been picked on the back of a century for KSCA Colts XI against Rajasthan Cricket Association XI in the Shafi Darashah Tournament in July- August 2011. "Karun has been in fine form this year, and so we decided to give him the opportunity," Abhiram said. "We also discussed Lokesh Rahul and Kunal Kapoor and I am sure they will get their chances too in the near future."

Ganesh Satish, the midde-order batsman, will captain Karnataka against Saurashtra in the absence of R Vinay Kumar, who has been selected for India's ODI series against West Indies.