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In between talks that the Indian team wants to play three spinners on what is expected to be a square turner in Kanpur for the final Test match against South Africa, Indian team began their preparations early but were missing two of their tweakers here on Monday.

Skipper Anil Kumble, who is still recovering from a groin strain sustained during the first Test in Chennai, as well as off spinner Harbhajan Singh with an upset tummy, were missing from the nets, while recalled Mumbai spinner Ramesh Powar is to reach Kanpur straight. Only Piyush Chawla was present along with the local spinners.

Having spent their following day after the innings defeat to the Proteas in the confines of their hotel rooms, they returned to Motera for an extended practice session, with a 16-man squad for the next match already announced.

The batsmen returned to the same square on which they were drubbed twice over – 76 all out in the first innings and 328 all out in the second – as coach Gary Kirsten Kirsten kept a close watch. Even Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who missed the fielding session due to a throat infection, came out for a knock in the middle.

Munaf Patel, who has also been recalled for the decider, was seen to be bowling to the batsmen, but Sreesanth, who seems to be having a shoulder niggle, was held back from bowling in the morning session. Gujarat pacer Siddharth Trivedi, who has been in excellent form with the ball for his state, was also seen steaming in.

Having got a clear idea about the surface in Kanpur, it was surprising to see the Indian players sweat it out on a green Motera pitch. Not the ideal preparation, one would say, as they could have atleast asked the ground staff to shave off one of the adjacent turfs to simulate the Green Park Stadium pitch.

The Indian team is scheduled to fly out from the city on Tuesday to Kanpur, where Ishant Sharma, who will have his fitness reassessed on April 10 along with his captain, will also join them.