Yadav out of Kolkata Test, Bhajji may be axed

Following the crushing 10-wicket loss to England in the second Test, India suffered another major blow when pacer Umesh Yadav was ruled out of the next match due to injury.

The pacer had to miss the second Test in Mumbai because of a back injury. He underwent scans in Mumbai and was advised rest for 10-12 days, forcing him out of the third Test in Kolkata, starting December 5.

"He will travel with the team to Kolkata and will be monitored throughout. There is a chance that he could play in the final Test in Nagpur if his recovery goes to plan," said a source close to the team.

Yadav's injury pull-out from the Mumbai Test meant the hosts were forced to go in with three spinners despite having two more pacers -- Ishant Sharma and Ashok Dinda -- in the squad. But the gamble backfired and the selectors might now be forced to make a change or two when they meet in Mumbai on Tuesday to name the Indian team for the third and fourth Test and the two-match Twenty20 series after that.

It is learnt that Harbhajan Singh might get the axe after failing to impress with the ball in Mumbai.

The selectors are also pondering adding a leg spinner to the squad. Amit Mishra, Piyush Chawla and Rahul Sharma's are the three contenders if the selectors decide to include a leggie.

India fielded off-spinning duo -- Harbhajan and R Ashwin -- along with left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha in a three-man spin attack, but, surprisingly, they failed to make the most of bowling on a turning wicket offering a lot of turn and bounce and were outdone by England spinners Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann.

Sachin Tendulkar has come under a lot of flak following his recent run of low scores and the selectors will be hoping he can fire with the bat in the next two games.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni also made it clear that he is not in favour of making too many changes to the squad following the defeat in Mumbai.