Harbhajan Singh back in business

Friday's India-South Africa game will be the dress rehearsal before Sunday's TVS Cup final.

Friday's India-South Africa game will be the dress rehearsal before Sunday's TVS Cup final, and after resting their key players against Bangladesh, India have decided to come out with their guns blazing.

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Sourav Ganguly will be walking out for the toss with South Africa captain Graeme Smith again, while Harbhajan Singh will return, despite his finger injury, which the team management says is a minor thing. However, Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh will stay out. The former's hamstring injury is yet to heal completely and Yuvraj still to recuperate from fever.

The game has nothing at stake except pride and India will not risk aggravating Zaheer's injury before the final. Zaheer had strained his hamstring while bowling against South Africa last Sunday. He had to leave the field after sending down 4.5 overs and was advised rest by Bangladesh's Australian physiotherapist John Gloster.

Amit Mishra makes way for Harbhajan while Abhijit Kale will sit out for his captain. The Mumbai middle-order batsman might feel let down at having got just one match to show his abilities, that too in a situation where scoring quick runs was the need of the hour.

India would not like to let South Africa gain the psychological satisfaction of having a win under their belt before the final and therefore, have decided to go in with the best available team on Friday. The game will also provide good practice to the players before the final.