Reuters
 
Kolkata, Feb 8: India seamers Ajit Agarkar and Irfan Pathan are doubtful for the first one-day international against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
 
Agarkar has flu and left-armer Pathan has a sore shoulder, captain Rahul Dravid told a news conference on Wednesday.

"We have to monitor them both and then take a decision on the 11," Dravid said.

Middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh is also struggling, a stiff back forcing him to miss Wednesday's net session along with Pathan and Agarkar.

Uncapped Bengal batsman Manoj Tiwary has been drafted into the squad as cover.

The four-match series is the last for both teams before next month's World Cup in the Caribbean where they have been drawn together in the group phase along with Bangladesh and Bermuda.

Chappell travels from middle-finger to thumbs-up

This series provides India batsman Virender Sehwag with an opportunity to regain his form before the showpiece event.

The 28-year-old batsman was dropped for the recent one-day series against West Indies due to a form slump and is on trial for the first two games.

"I am looking forward to see him (Sehwag) playing," Dravid said. "This series will give him a chance to get into the right kind of form."

The remaining three games are in Rajkot (Feb. 11), Goa (Feb. 14) and Visakhapatnam (Feb. 17).

Experienced Sri Lankan bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan are missing the tour to rest before the World Cup.