Unwilling to take any chances, India dropped out-of-form spinner Harbhajan Singh from the team for the second Test against Australia, beginning in Adelaide on Friday.
The off-spinner has been left out of the 12 players short-listed for the match, according to team sources.
Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, called in as a last-minute addition to the squad, stands a good chance of playing as he has been included in the 12-man list. There is also ample indication that India will go into the match with two spinners.
The 27-year-old Kartik last played Test cricket in November 2000, when he took two wickets against Zimbabwe in New Delhi. He played four Test matches and picked nine wickets since his debut against South Africa in Mumbai in February 2000. He was the pick of the Indian spinners in the recent tri-series at home, troubling both the Kiwi and Aussie batsmen but was surprisingly excluded from the touring party.
Harbhajan's omission was expected after he conceded 169 runs for just one wicket in 35 overs in the Brisbane Test. His indifferent form led to doubts whether he has recovered fully from the finger injury suffered during this year's World Cup.
Team sources also indicated that India would go into the match with two spinners in a bid to exploit the dry pitch at the Adelaide Oval.
The experienced Anil Kumble is all set to return to action after missing out on the first Test at the expense of another out-of-form bowler Ashish Nehra.
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