Gambhir was fit before departing for SA: BCCI

Mumbai:

The Cricket Board on Thursday said that opener Gautam Gambhir would figure in India's Champions Trophy lung-opener against Pakistan on September 26 after having missed the lone warm-up game against New Zealand.

"He was cleared by the BCCI experts when he underwent a fitness test in Mumbai before the team's departure. I understand he's playing in the first match," said BCCI secretary N Srinivasan here.

Gambhir hurt his groin before the tri-series in Sri Lanka that India won and had to return home. He was advised two weeks' rest.

India, already weakened before departure by the absence of injured stalwarts Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan, suffered another major setback to their hopes when star batsman Yuvraj Singh was injured yesterday.

Yuvraj, who broke a finger in his right hand during the net session while going for a catch, has been ruled out for six weeks which could force him out of the entire best-of-seven home ODI series against Australia commencing at Baroda on October 25.