They enjoyed the nearly three-hour workout with physio Paul Close keeping a close watch. But there was no cutting down on intensity as they showed purpose and determination in every move.

However, two players commanded special attention. There have been fitness worries over skipper Anil Kumble and paceman Ishant Sharma. The skipper had suffered a right groin niggle in the Chennai Test that reduced his firepower in the second Test in Ahmedabad.

Final call
Kumble had bowled just an over on the day, before spending some time with Close. Apparently, the selectors have given instructions and full powers to the physio to take a final call on Kumble's fitness. The Bangalorean had said in one of his columns published before the Ahmedabad Test that he would play even if there was ten per cent possibility that his presence in the side could make a difference. But the comments had not gone down well with the bigwigs. There will be further fitness test for him on the morrow.

India cannot afford go into this Test without Kumble, especially when the pitch is expected to assist the spinners from the third day itself.

South African coach Mickey Arthur did not waste an opportunity for a bit of gamesmanship when a question was posed to him on the possible absence of Kumble.

"Kumble is a legendary bowler, who has taken more than 600 wickets in Tests. There is no doubt that he is a champion player. India cannot afford to miss him on such an important match, and if he is absent they will really miss him," Arthur said.

Ishant too bowled at the nets and at times he was able to generate good pace. After four overs, however, the Delhi pace bowler clutched his back and returned to the shade. Later, he came back to bat at nets for about 15 minutes, and Ishant maintained he was feeling fine.

He had suffered a side strain couple of days before the Ahmedabad Test, necessitating a fitness test on the morrow. Two of the national selectors will be present at the nets on Thursday, monitoring the fitness levels of players before pruning the current 16-man squad to 14. The others like S Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh too will be watched closely by physio and selectors. Sreesanth had aggravated a shoulder injury during the Ahmedabad Test, but the Kerala paceman bowled with customary verve at nets on the day.

Injury scare
Meanwhile, South Africa too suffered a minor injury scare with pace spearhead Dale Steyn going out of the nets with a shoulder niggle. Arthur, however, allayed fears of the worst.

"That was just a shoulder niggle, but nothing serious. Steyn will play the game and the ice pack on his shoulder was just a precautionary measure. There are no other fitness worries in our camp," Arthur said.