Mahendra Singh Dhoni is unlikely to play the final Test, starting in Cape Town on Tuesday. The wicketkeeper-batsman, who has bruised fingers, had a brief session at the nets on Monday.

Dhoni donned the gloves for a short while during the practice session, but the focus was on Dinesh Kaarthick, who kept receiving throws from Greg Chappell and the slip cordon.

If Dhoni makes way for Kaarthick, then there would be three changes in the playing eleven for the third Test, as seamer Munaf Patel and opener Gautam Gambhir are likely to make it to the final line-up.

Patel is almost certain to come in for VRV Singh and Gambhir could replace either Virender Sehwag or Wasim Jaffer, though it seems that the Delhi batsman is set to miss out on a place because of his miserable performances in the last few Tests.