Questions persist over Kohli, Shami's fitness

Virat Kohli, who injured his right shoulder during the third Test in Ranchi, may have yet not recovered fully ahead of the fourth Test in Dharamsala.

Kohli hurt his shoulder while making a diving stop on the boundary on the first day in Ranchi. He spent the rest of Australia's first innings off the field, but batted at his usual No. 4 slot and fielded in the second innings - though at slip even against the spinners rather than his usual station in the covers or midwicket.

He may have done so in an effort to minimise the need to throw, and on Thursday, two days before the start of the Dharamsala Test, Kohli only threw underarm during India's fielding practice. He did not spend any time batting in the nets, and wore a sleeveless training jersey that revealed the taping around his right shoulder.

Kohli, of course, may only have been resting his shoulder in an effort to preserve it for the rigours of a Test match. He may yet bat in the nets on Friday. At this stage, nothing definite can be said about his participation in the fourth Test. If Kohli is ruled out, Ajinkya Rahane will most likely stand in as captain.

Meanwhile, it has also emerged that Mohammed Shami is a doubtful starter for the decider. Shami bowled for close to half an hour at the HPCA Stadium nets on Thursday. While India's team management is monitoring the progress of his recovery from injuries to his right leg which have kept him out of international cricket since the third Test against England in Mohali, it is felt he may not be ready yet for the rigours of long-form cricket.

He isn't officially part of India's squad, but has been travelling and training with them since the second Test in Bengaluru, and has also played two 50-over games for Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

"Bowling in a 50-over game is one thing, but five-day cricket is a different ball game," a BCCI official in the know said. "At the moment, he looks doubtful, but we will see and take a call, but presently he hasn't been named in the squad."*

Shami bowled alongside Umesh Yadav in the seamers' net before Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma took their places. Depending on Shami's fitness, all four could be in contention for starting places in Dharamsala, where the weather tends to assist swing and early-morning seam.

The pitch itself retained a sprinkling of grass on Thursday, though not an extravagant amount. Before the start of India's training session, both Kohli and coach Anil Kumble spent around ten minutes having a close look at it in the company of Daljit Singh, who heads the BCCI's grounds and pitches committee.

*15.15GMT, March 23: The article was updated with the latest on Mohammed Shami.