India's matchwinning offspinner Harbhajan Singh will not require surgery on his right hand to set right a ligament injury in the knuckle joint of the middle finger.
Dr Anant Joshi, medical officer of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, told rediff.com today that Dr Gregory Hoy, a surgeon at the Avenue Hospital, Windsor, Melbourne, Australia, who was to perform the surgery, took the decision after Singh responded well to physiotherapy.
"Harbhajan's hand has responded to rehabilitation and injection process," Dr Joshi said. "He bowled on Saturday and Sunday without any pain and after speaking to team physio Andrew Leipus it was decided that he would not need the surgery."
Harbhajan Singh is expected to return home by tomorrow.
Dr Joshi said Singh is expected to be fit for the home Test series against New Zealand in October, but warned that the injury could recur, forcing a rethink about surgery.
"Surgery is the last option," he said. "It can be done anytime. It is not like we have missed the bus. The damage is under control."
Finger surgeon Dr Sudhir Warrier, who is accompanying the offspinner, will follow up with Dr Hoy about Singh's progress.