Kanpur: After the last-minute drama surrounding Mahendra Singh Dhoni's finger injury, the Indian camp can breathe a sigh of relief as the captain has been declared fit and will take part in the second Test against Sri Lanka starting on 24th November.
This means that Dinesh Karthik - who was flown in as emergency cover will now fly back to Dharamsala to join his Tamil Nadu team-mates in their Ranji Trophy match against Himachal Pradesh that also starts tomorrow.
Although it was always on the cards that Dhoni would be fit again, Karthik will have to turn up for his state instead of country and do so tired out from a trip that gave him nothing except for probably air miles.
If India go in with the same eleven as for the first Test, Pragyan Ojha too could be released from the squad to join Hyderabad for Ranji Trophy duties.
Dhoni had played a crucial part in the first Test, scoring his second Test century and resurrecting India in a partnership with Rahul Dravid, and then pulling off a brilliant catch to dismiss Sri Lankan opener Paranavitana.