Despite of scoring the highest runs in the triangular series in the Australia Gautam Gambhir is not in the test team against South Africa, which is going to start on March 26.
Along with him 19 years old fast bowler Ishant Sharma is also not this team. The reason they say is fitness.
After a long tiring tour of the Australia they need rest and refreshments.
While vice captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajn Singh have cleared the fitness test.
Ishant Sharma suffered a toe injury during the tour and a finger injury after his return and was advised to take three weeks' rest. Board of Control for Cricket in India Board secretary Niranjan Shah told reporters after the selection meeting in Bangalore, attended by new coach Gary Kirsten and Test captain Anil Kumble , that Sharma would be considered for the second test if he recovered in time. The first Test will be played in Chennai from March 26 to 30 and the second in Ahmedabad from April 3 to 7. Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla will be on stand-by as cover for both Harbhajan and left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, who was picked as third spinner, and wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik for Dhoni, who is suffering from a finger sprain. Kartik, who last played a Test in 2004, sustained an ankle sprain while playing in a domestic match on Monday.
Left-arm fast bowler Rudra Pratap Singh comes back after missing the tri-series in Australia with a hamstring injury to bolster the pace attack in the absence of Zaheer Khan, ruled out with a foot injury since the second Test in Sydney.
