I will play; no questions about it: Ganguly

India's fitness worries have taken a backseat for the moment as captain Sourav Ganguly reported himself fit for Friday's opening day/night one-day international against South Africa in Johannesburg.

"I will play; no questions about it," said Ganguly, taking part in the practice session on Thursday afternoon with gusto. He picked catches and threw, apparently without any discomfort in the sore index finger of his right hand.

Ganguly has also promised himself a decent bowl in the match, indicating he is ready for battle.

With Tendulkar also reporting fit and showing no signs of any discomfort to his toe after wearing new, refitted shoes, India look ready to put their best foot forward.

India will go into the match with only one spinner.

"Looking at the wicket, it (playing two spinners) would not be a decent choice," said Ganguly, confirming he would field only leg-spinner Anil Kumble.

It means off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will have his first miss of the year after coming back sensationally against the Australians in February.

India will thus go into the match with all the three medium-pacers -- Javagal Srinath, Venaktesh Prasad and Ajit Agarkar -- and Kumble as a support spin bowler. The rest of the bowling burden would be shared between Ganguly, Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh.

Ganguly also confirmed that young Test opener Shiv Sunder Das has been pencilled in for the match.

"Das would play," he said, deflating the hopes of Baroda's Jacob Martin, who presented his credentials in an impressive manner on Wednesday, hitting 54 off 81 balls against South Africa A at Benoni.

The likely line-up:
India: Sourav Ganguly (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Shiv Sunder Das, Yuvraj Singh, Deep Dasgupta (wk), Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad.

Earlier report
Indians confident after early successes

Mail Cricket Editor