India wait on Saha fitness

India's national selectors will wait on the physio's report before they decide if India need a replacement for Wriddhiman Saha, who injured his thumb during the Duleep Trophy semi-final in Rohtak. Saha was selected to replace the resting MS Dhoni for the first three ODIs against Sri Lanka, which begin on November 2. Saha did not come out to bat on Friday as East Zone sleepwalked to a tame innings defeat. He came out to bat on Thursday but only for a golden duck.

Saha did not respond to calls, but East Zone coach Shiv Sunder Das said the injury was not serious. Das said Saha had injured the area between the right thumb and the index finger while keeping during the final session of play on the first day in Rohtak.

Considering he had taped his fingers and was wearing inner gloves, Saha did not realise immediately, but the the injury became clear after the day's play. Asked if he had split his webbing Das said the injury was not severe and should heal quickly, allowing Saha to play in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Saha has a week to prove his fitness. This is a rare opportunity as Dhoni plays all three formats and rarely takes breaks. Saha has long been Dhoni's understudy, but has played only two Tests and six ODIs to date. When Saha got injured in England earlier this year, he lost his No. 2 slot to Sanju Samson who travelled with the team during the ODIs but didn't get a game. Saha's replacement in the Test extras was Naman Ojha, who has scored four hundreds - two of them double-centuries - in his last four first-class appearances.

Once fit again, though, Saha got his rightful place back when Dhoni conveyed to the selectors his willingness to rest for the first three ODIs against Sri Lanka. Now Saha has to wait before he is cleared.