Ishant Sharma declared fit for Kanpur Test

Ishant Sharma, who was sit out of the first two Tests against South Africa due a finger injury, has been declared fit for the third and final Test.

Munaf Patel replaced fast bowler Rudra Pratap Singh who went wicketless in the second Test which the hosts lost by an innings and 90 runs on Saturday to trail the series 1-0.

He underwent fitness tests at the National Cricket Academy this morning.

The lanky teenager had injuries in his bowling finger and big toe and was advised rest after returning from Australia.

Rudra Pratap had also failed to bag any wickets in the drawn first Test in Chennai.

Patel, 24, last played against Pakistan at home in November-December last year.

Off-spinner Ramesh Powar was named in the squad as a cover for captain Anil Kumble who is suffering from a groin injury, a press release from the Indian cricket board said.

Kumble and fast bowling talent Ishant Sharma, who missed the first two Tests because of finger and toe injuries, will undergo fitness tests on Thursday, a day before the start of the Kanpur Test (April 11-15).

Star batsman Sachin Tendulkar has already been ruled out of the match which the hosts must win if they are to avoid the ignominy of a series defeat at home.

Team for Kanpur Test: Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble (capt), Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Ramesh Powar, Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth, Munaf Patel.