Harbhajan, Nehra down with viral fever

Indians are facing a major fitness crisis ahead of the tri-series against Australia and Pakistan as two of their top bowlers are down with fever.

Indians are facing a major fitness crisis ahead of the tri-series against world champions Australia and Pakistan as two of their frontline bowlers were down with viral fever.

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Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and left-arm medium-pacer Ashish Nehra are down with viral fever and could not accompany the team to the practice session at Utrecht on Thursday morning.

"Ashish is particulrly bad and he is completely laid up in the bad," remarked physio Andrew Leipus, who himself is battling with throat congestion and stayed back from practice session to arrange for the doctor and medical help for the cricketers.

"I am completely bereft of any strength in my frame," commented Harbhajan. "Its difficult to even be on my legs."

Leipus, however, was satisfied with the progress star batsman VVS Laxman has made on his bruised knee.

"The swelling has subsided completely and VVS has recovered well," said Leipus.

Laxman missed most of the matches in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka because of the successive blows he received on his left knee during practice sessions.

The 15-member Indian squad, however, has enough options to replace Harbhajan and Nehra, should they be unfit for the series opening match against Pakistan on Saturday.

And Ajit Agarkar can combine with Irfan Pathan and Laxmipathy Balaji to give skipper Sourav Ganguly his famous three-seamer formula.

India take on Australia in the second match on August 23 while Pakistan clash with the reigning world champions Australia on August 25 in the final round-robin tie.