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India star Cheteshwar Pujara says a finger injury is still causing him some issues but is not affecting his batting in the SCG Test.
Cheteshwar Pujara admits he has been batting through the pain barrier since an injury scare in the MCG nets, where he was struck on the gloves.
Pujara left the nets for treatment after the blow in Melbourne, which came during a spirited training session that followed India's win in the Boxing Day Test.
There were few obvious signs of discomfort during the right-hander's knock of 50 at the SCG on day three of the third Test, although he notably still needs painkiller tablets to bat.
Pujara, whose slow strike-rate drew criticism from Ricky Ponting and other pundits on Saturday, conceded he was not fully fit because of the finger injury.
"It's definitely getting better," Pujara told reporters.
"I don't think it's causing any trouble as far as my batting is concerned.
"It's not easy. I am not 100 per cent. I wouldn't say it's completely normal.
"But it was something that was expected. If there's a little bit of pain, I can manage it and still play this game. Because it's an important game."
India, already reeling from the absence of Virat Kohli (paternity leave), Ishant Sharma (side strain), Mohammed Shami (broken arm) and Umesh Yadav (calf strain), could ill-afford to be without the hero of their 2018-19 series win in Australia.
The tourists suffered two fresh injuries on Saturday, when Rishabh Pant (arm) and Ravindra Jadeja (thumb) were both rushed off for scans and failed to take the field in the final session.
It came as Ponting declared on Seven that Australia should feel confident about winning if their lead balloons to anything beyond 250 runs.
"India's middle order looks frail and fragile. Pujara is taking an eternity to score his runs, like he normally does," he said, having suggested his slow-scoring approach is putting pressure on teammates.
Pujara's 50 came off 174 balls on Saturday, making it the slowest half-century of his career.
"We are trying our best as a batting unit," he said.
"I just have to bat in the manner I know to bat."
