Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar said that Zaheer Khan should be put through "stringent tests" to ascertain his fitness ahead of the first Test match, says a report in The Business Standard.
"I think what they should be doing is because there is still 8 or 9 days to go before the test match begins, they need to have stringent fitness test for him a couple of days before the game," Gavaskar said.
"So 13th Nov, they should have a stringent fitness test for him where he bowls full speed and runs, so that selectors know he is 100 per cent fit. If he doesn't do that on the 13th Nov then they should be looking at someone else," he added.
Gavaskar said, “"In case of proven performers, somebody with 400 plus wickets in Test, I don't think Ranji performance is important as long as selection committee believes that he has been bowling well, they can come back in the team.
"If selection committee decides this is going to be the formation of their 11, well may be keep a couple of players handy in case of any last minute illness on the morning of the match. I would think they should release at least two players to go back and play in Ranji trophy," he added.
Meanwhile, The Nation reports that Stuart Broad joined fast bowler Steven Finn on England's injured list ahead of the Test match against India.
“Vice-captain Broad bruised his left heel and team doctors were monitoring his progress just 10 days before the first Test of the four-match series starts in Ahmedabad on November 15. "Scans show Broad has a bruised left heel. Progress will be monitored over next couple of days," team spokeswoman Rhian Evans said during the final day's play at the DY Patil stadium,” says the report.