Already carrying a long-standing finger niggle, Mahendra Singh Dho-ni injured the webbing in his left hand during the drawn Kolkata Test. The injury isn’t serious eno-ugh in itself, but given the quantum of cricket that lies ahead of the Indians in the immediate future, the team management will have a tricky call to make over the next day.

The presence of Dinesh Kaarthick in the squad -- and in the eleven -- means Anil Kumble and the think-tank will have a like-for-like replacement behind the stumps should they feel that Dhoni and Indian cricket will be better off by sitting out the Bangalore Test. Physio John Gloster is learnt to have recommended a five-day period of rest for Dhoni. Given that India are due to fly out to Australia in just over ten days’ time, it will not be a massive surprise if the Indians choose to err on the side of caution, allowing Dhoni to recuperate and be injury-free by the time of the only practice match in Melbourne from December 20, before the first Test starting on Boxing Day.

Dhoni has, it must be remembered, been playing without a break since India met Ireland in a one-off one-dayer in Belfast in late June. The one-day skipper will obviously have to shoulder a huge burden in Australia, as principal stumper and key batsman in the Tests, with the additional responsibility of the captaincy in the limited-over games.

If the team management believes there is the slightest possibility that he will aggravate his injury, he will most likely be rested for the Bangalore Test, with Yuvraj Singh in that case the favourite to make a return to the Test eleven in his place.

For now though, all this is in the realms of speculation. An official word might come on Friday, after India and Pakistan have a final training session in the morning.