Dhoni leaves for Ranchi to rest

Bangalore, Dec 9 (UNI) India's ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who had to sit out of the crucial third and final Test match against Pakistan in progress in Bangalore today due to injury, left for his home town Ranchi to take much needed rest in view of the gruelling Australian tour.

Dhoni was sidelined from the final Test after he aggravated the knee injury he had sustained some time ago and doctors had advised a minimum of one week's rest. He had also hurt the webbing on one of his hands while practicing in Bangalore last week.

He left for Ranchi via Delhi by a morning flight. He is expected to be back in the city on the final day's play on Wednesday when the Indian squad for Australia would also be named by the BCCI.

BCCI sources said it was felt that he take some rest before leaving for Australia and hence he was sent home. Dinesh Karthik is keeping the stumps in Dhoni's absence in the ongoing Test match.

However, sources said the Indian test vice-captain had gone home to take part in the shooting of an advertisement of one of the products he is promoting.

UNI