The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Bangalore

India's hopes of winning the first home series against Pakistan in 28 years suffered a setback Friday as key players Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Dhoni reported injured ahead of the third and final test match.

Skipper Anil Kumble said India was facing a crunch situation as Tendulkar has aggravated his knee injury and Dhoni's sprained ankle needs a week's rest, forcing the team management to draft opener Gautam Gambhir into the squad.

Tendulkar's knee got inflamed during the drawn second test match in Calcutta, while Dhoni has been playing with a strapped ankle after spraining it last month during the one-dayers against Pakistan.

"We will assess Tendulkar's condition before the toss Saturday morning, but we've already called Gambhir as a cover for him," said Kumble.

Kumble said the team management was planning to rest Dhoni for this test, to enable his recovery before embarking on the Australian tour, but this was being reconsidered.

"We're now unsure about resting Dhoni because of Tendulkar's fitness problem, but then Dhoni needs seven days to recover 100 percent," said Kumble.

These fitness problems come in the wake of the home team's attack being depleted by a string of injuries sidelining all front line pace bowlers.

Injuries to fast bowlers Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Rudra Pratap Singh and Shantakumaran Sreesanth have forced the selectors to summon reserves that feature two young pacemen.

Seamer Irfan Pathan and young pacemen Vikram Rajvir Singh and Ishant Sharma joined India's squad Thursday.

"I acknowledge our pace attack is a little inexperienced, but it's also an opportunity for the pacers to make a mark," said Kumble, who is hoping to clinch the series in front of his home crowd at Bangalore's Chinnaswamy Stadium.

India leads 1-0 going into the final test after clinching the opening match by six wickets. Two years ago Pakistan rallied to win the final test at the same venue to draw the series 1-1.

India last won a home test series against Pakistan in 1979, when Sunil Gavaskar's team prevailed 2-0. In four subsequent series, Pakistan once emerged victorious and drew the other three.

"Pakistan will come back strongly at us, but the onus is on us to win the series," said Kumble.

"This test will be very special for me," said Kumble. "I've spent the last 20 years at this ground, going out for the toss will be an emotional moment."

Pakistan's stand-in skipper Younis Khan said his team would strive to square the series, taking inspiration from the 2005 victory in the final test.

"That win is a motivation and positive thinking is a key to win the series," said Khan, elevated as captaincy in place of injured Shoaib Malik.

Malik sat out of the second test after spraining his ankle and will be missing the final test as he continues to be unfit.

Khan, who has twice turned down the Pakistan team's captaincy, said he remained a reluctant skipper.

"I'm always running away from captaincy, because it affects my batting and I want to enjoy my cricket," Khan said. "But the more I run away from captaincy, the more it chases me."

"I do it reluctantly and yet it comes to me every time," he said.