Indian openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were rendered doubtful starters for tomorrow’s fourth ODI against Australia.

The BCCI said a final decision on whether they play tomorrow would be taken on the morning of the game.

Tamil Nadu wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik has been brought in as cover for the duo.

“Dinesh Karthik will be joining the Indian team in Mohali,” BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.

“Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir sustained injuries during the third match of the Hero Honda Cup 2009, played at Delhi on October 31. A final decision on their availability for the fourth match, to be played at Mohali on November 2 will be taken on the morning of the game,” the statement read.

India won last night’s match by six wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Although the BCCI did not elaborate on the injuries of the two openers, Sehwag had been hit on his foot by a Peter Siddle yorker in the eighth over which had him in pain, needing the physio’s attention.

Gambhir, on the other hand, was struck on the neck by a Ricky Ponting pull. The opener didn’t field for the rest of Australia’s innings after that.