MS Dhoni to reach on 5th, but may not play 1st Test

The national selection committee had already appointed Virat Kohli as captain for first Test.

Dhoni will reach Australia just four day before the series opener is scheduled to take place in Adelaide. (Source: AP)

As Indian team gets ready to play its first Test against Australia in Adelaide from December 9-13, the question doing the rounds in the Indian camp is whether India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be available for the first Test. Dhoni had missed the five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka at home due to a right thumb injury and is expected to join the Indian team in Australia on December 5.

As per the original plan the India captain was expected to play in the second Test (scheduled to be held in Adelaide from December 12), but with the new itinerary released by CA on Monday, Dhoni will now be reaching four days before the opening Test.

Sources in the BCCI told The Indian Express that despite Dhoni reaching a few days before the first Test, there is less chance of him playing. However, a final call will be taken by Dhoni himself after reaching Australia.

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“He will be reaching on December 5 and it will take some time for Dhoni to get over from his jet lag. He will take some time to settle down but Dhoni will take the final call once he reaches there. We have a long tour and players’ fitness will be important,” a top BCCI official informed.

The national selection committee had already appointed Virat Kohli as captain for first Test. It is learnt the BCCI selectors will be discussing Dhoni’s availability on Tuesday but sources in the selection committee informed the final call has to be taken by Dhoni himself.

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