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New Delhi - India will be without opening batsman Gautam Gambhir and fast bowler Ishant Sharma for the second and final cricket Test against Australia, the cricket board said on Wednesday.
Gambhir and Sharma have been ruled out due to knee injuries sustained during the first Test in Mohali, which India won by one wicket in a thrilling finish on Tuesday.
Sharma, who claimed 3-34 in Australia's second innings, also hit a defiant 31 during a match-winning stand of 81 for the ninth wicket with Venkatsai Laxman.
Laxman, who remained unbeaten on 73 despite suffering back spasms, hopes to be fit for the second Test, which starts at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Saturday.
India's selectors have added uncapped batsman Abhinav Mukund and left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat to the 15-man squad, but neither is likely to take the field.
Opener Murali Vijay is expected to replace Gambhir, while fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth is favoured to take over from Sharma.
India squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Murali Vijay, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Zaheer Khan, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Cheteshwar Pujara, Abhinav Mukund, Jaydev Unadkat.
