Shami doubtful for Mumbai Test; Rahul fit

Rediff.com's Harish Kotian reports from the Wankhede Stadium.

Opener K L Rahul was declared fit for the 4th Test against England, which begins in Mumbai tomorrow.

Pacer Mohammed Shami is a doubtful starter though.

"Rahul is fine, Shami we got to take a call in the evening in terms of how he is feeling with his knee," Skipper Virat Kohli told the media on Wednesday.

"After Mohali he felt a bit of soreness in his knee, so we need to take a corrective call on that because he has had a history of knee surgery," Kohli added.

Shami didn't bowl in the nets on Tuesday and Wednesday during India's training session and he may miss the Mumbai Test.

"We don't want to push a player to the extent of where we will lose him for the whole season," Kohli added. "So we will take a call I said in the evening as to how much rest he needs or if he can go tomorrow."

Rahul, Kohli confirmed, would walk into the team after recovering from the arm injury he suffered in the Visakhapatnam Test.

Rahul's inclusion would mean that Karnataka team-mate Karun Nair will likely be left out of the side.

Parthiv Patel, who opened for India in Mohali, will bat lower down the order.

"They are specialist openers. There is no question of them (not) opening. There are not guys who have batted in different positions, they have opened for their state and their country," Kohli said.

The skipper is not worried by the spate of injuries which has hit the Indian team.

"Currently, not really, because if you see whoever has stepped in, has given match winning performances," Kohli said, echoing what coach Anil Kumble told the media on Tuesday.

"Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) came in at St Lucia once and in Kolkata once, and both times he picked up five wickets. He has been the match winner for us. I am not worried because the guys sitting outside are waiting for opportunities."