Dhoni passed fit

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who declared himself fit to captain India in the second Test today, inspects the Kanpur pitch

Buy this photo

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has allayed injury fears by declaring himself fit for tomorrow’s second Test against Sri Lanka in Kanpur.

Wicketkeeper Dhoni damaged a finger in practice over the weekend but - despite Dinesh Karthik being summoned as cover - will take his place behind the stumps.

Karthik was dispatched to play for his state Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy.

"I was having a problem with my finger but now that I am fit, Karthik will be flying back to take part in a game for his state side," Dhoni, who scored his second Test hundred in the drawn opening match of the series, confirmed.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will have to make at least one change with paceman Dammika Prasad ruled out with a hamstring problem.

The tourists will consider recalling mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis, who took 26 India wickets in a home series last year, while fast bowler Dilhara Fernando has also flown in to boost the squad.

"Prasad's injury means we can play three spinners if we want to. Ajantha is always in the reckoning and Fernando has also been bowling quite fast and accurately," said captain Kumar Sangakkara.

Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, who had paved the way for Sri Lanka’s run-fest in Ahmedabad with a century, is expected to take his place at the top of the order despite suffering a bloody nose during a football game in practice.

Meanwhile, Sangakkara has urged his players to brace themselves for a battle after India salvaged a draw in the first Test, despite being reduced to 32 for four inside the first hour on the opening day.

The 32-year-old rued the missed opportunity and, while he does expect his team to carry forward positives from the match, believes a psychological advantage is not among them.

“There is no psychological edge for us,” Sangakkara said. “It is even-stevens now and we have to start from scratch.

Harbhajan Singh claimed seven wickets in the last Test at Kanpur, a three-day win over South Africa in April 2008

Buy this photo

“We are a little disappointed, but ultimately it was the wicket. It was not what we expected.

“Even so, we had them at 32 for four and then we gave it away. We were always positive in our thinking but we can only learn from our mistakes, carry the positives and move on.”

From the benign surface at Ahmedabad, the focus has now centred on the strip at Kanpur, a venue which invited censure from the International Cricket Council after India secured a one-sided victory inside three days against South Africa in the last Test here in April 2008.

The battle set to unfold tomorrow will be played out on an adjacent strip, but Dhoni expects a better performance from his bowlers regardless of the surface.

I think we leaked too many runs in the first Test,” Dhoni said. “It was pretty tough work for the bowlers but they were still eager to bowl and I was pleased with their attitude.

“But I think we ought to stick to more disciplined lines.”

As for his side’s batting, Dhoni added: “We are a side that looks for partnerships, even if we lose a couple of wickets. One long innings makes it pretty easy for us.

“The pace (at which we score) doesn’t really matter because we have players in the side who are capable of lifting the run rate if required.

“The middle and lower order contributed in Ahmedabad and that is a good sign.”

Dhoni has also backed his spinners and indicated he would persist with the expensive leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who returned figures of 1-203 in Ahmedabad.

“I am satisfied with our spinners,” Dhoni said. “If you look at it, the greatest bowler (Muttiah) Muralitharan, was in the opposition, bowling on a fifth-day pitch and even he produced no results.

“It was difficult for our bowlers too.”