Gambhir injured doubtful for the fourth ODI

Chandigarh, Oct 7 (UNI) Team India Opener Gautam Gambhir is unlikely to play in the fourth ODI against Australia in Mohali tomorrow due to a groin Injury.

The batsman slipped while batting in the nets this morning and had to be taken off the field in pain.

Gambhir will undergo an MRI scan to assess the extent of the injury, batsman Robin Uthappa told media persons here this afternoon.

''He slipped and strained his groin. He is going for an MRI and we are waiting for the report. Team physio John will assess him in the evening,'' Uthappa said.

Uthappa, the son of Venu an international hockey referee, talked to the press in place of skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted that it was the batsmen who have let the team down in last two matches.

''We let the team down, the batters have put their hands up,'' he said adding that the time has come for ''us to put up much better display. We will make amends.'' The Karnataka batsman was candid enough to admit that his team mates had struggled to switch back quickly from Twenty20 to one-day cricket but asserted that, ''we are now ready to fight back. It's not a pressure, but a question of taking more responsibility.'' ''Winning the Twenty20 World cup was a huge thing. After that momentum was on Twenty20. Immediately to change in a matter of two days was not an easy task. We did find it tough to change gears in such a short time.'' ''There was very little time to recover, to shift gears and bring it back. But we are looking up now. We are feeling a lot better. We need good start,big score and I am confident that tomorrow we will put good performance in all departments of the game.'' The 21-year-old said, in England ''we had good opening partnerships and that made a huge difference and We only hope that we start having such partnership in the remaining matches of the series.'' He rubbished the reports of differences between seniors and juniors in the team and said, ''There are no difference, we are a one unit, united in our approach to win. The reports of differences is only in the media. The mood is postive in our camp.'' Asked if India could play two regular spinners by including left-arm Murali Kartik alongside off spinner Harbhajan Singh, he said ''I will not rule out the possibility.'' On being asked about the display of aggression by some players in Kochi, the right handed batsman said, ''We all want to play positively. Our plan is to be aggressive. If they say something we will give it back to them.'' The batsman said bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad is working with the bowlers to formulate strategy for tomorrow's game, ''I am hopeful that we will make a turn around in the 4th Game.'' ''The reason for my optimisim is that we are getting into our rhythm and players know the importance of the match. A win here will keep us alive in the series,'' he added.

Uthappa said the absence of coach is being felt in terms of making strategy.

''We do miss a coach strategy-wise.'' About his performance, Uthappa said, ''I like to stay at the crease for long time, I will play my natural game, if ball is there to be hit i will hit.

Asked whether India will choose to bat first if they win the toss, he replied, ''I am not M.S.Dhoni.'' UNI