India hopes to win Bangalore Test and nail series

BANGALORE - India will take on Australia in the second and final Test here from Saturday.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men, fresh from their one-wicket win in Mohali Test, will go into the match with a psychological edge.

The Indians will seek to wrap up the Test series and prevent the Australians from clinching a Test win on Indian soil in six years.

The Indians are expected to be without opener Gautam Gambhir and pacer Ishant Sharma, as both of them are suffering knee injuries. V V S Laxman too is also doubtful starter due to back spasms.

Tamil Nadu opener Abhinav Mukund, who performed well in the recently held Irani Trophy tournament, and Jaydev Unadkat have been included in the team in place of Gambhir and Ishant, but it remains to be seen whether they would actually find a place in the playing XI.

With the track once again on the slower side, stroke-making would be difficult as the match progresses.

Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is expected to have a big role to play in the match.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting would be looking up to his batsmen to rise to the occasion for the tourists to square the two-match series.

Teams (from): India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt. and wk), Virender Sehwag, Murali Vijay, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, S Sreesanth, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Cheteshwar Pujara, Abhinav Mukund and Jaydev Unadkat.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (Capt.), Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Philip Hughes, Mike Hussey, Marcus North, Doug Bollinger, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson, Tim Paine (wk), James Pattinson, Peter George, Nathan Hauritz, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc. (ANI)