India's opener Shikhar Dhawan and vice-captain Virat Kohli have recovered from their injuries sustained during the second Test against Australia and are fit to play the third match beginning in Melbourne on December 26.

An Indian team spokesperson said Dhawan and Kohli have recovered from the injuries sustained at the Gabba nets before play on the fourth morning of the second Test, and that they would be fine for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, a report in the Sydney Morning Herald said.

Dhawan could not resume batting on the fourth morning after being hit in the right wrist by a rising delivery during net practice just before the start of play. After taking pain-killing injections, he came out to bat when the sixth wicket fell, with a heavily strapped right wrist to score 81.

Kohli was hit on the left forearm during the same net practice, but he overcame the blow and came out to bat in place of Dhawan. The two batsmen were injured whilst facing an Indian bowler, whose name has been withheld.

India lost the second Test at the Gabba by four wickets.

Image: Shikhar Dhawan

Photograph: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images