Karthik set for chance

In-form India batsman Dinesh Karthik is likely to be promoted to number three in the second ODI against England.

Promotion likely for in-form batsman

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Dinesh Karthik is likely to be the beneficiary if India revamp their top order for Friday's second ODI against England in Bristol.

Karthik, who impressed during the Test series as an opener, is to be given a chance up the order after India were thrashed by 104 runs in Tuesday's series-opener at the Rose Bowl.

Gautam Gambhir is set to be sacrificed, with Karthik replacing him at three and off-spinning all-rounder Ramesh Powar coming into the starting XI.

Any other changes to the tourists' line-up will depend on the effects of a virus that has laid low five members of their squad.

Agit Agarkar, Rudra Pratap Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, and Zaheer Khan all missed practice on Thursday due to fever and aching limbs.

"He (Karthik) needs to be given more overs and opportunities, so we may give him a chance to stake a claim at three," said captain Rahul Dravid.

Meeting

On the defeat at the Rose Bowl, he added: "When you don't have a good result, you have to look at the balance of your team, your combinations, what might work better and what might be more suited.

"We've had a meeting, looked at some of the areas we need to do better at and we know we have to bounce back quickly.

"We know it was not a very good performance and the good thing about it is there is not much time in between the games, so there is a chance to correct things straight away.

"We knew we were going to be tested in this series despite what people might have said."