Ganguly under pressure

Ganguly (left): Needs to restore his credibility as captain

The pressure will be on Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly when he leads a President's XI against Australia in Delhi on Tuesday.

The three-day match offers Ganguly a chance to find his form with the bat ahead of next week's second Test.

He made only eight and one in the first Test at Mumbai, which Australia won by 10 wickets and his captaincy was also called into question by the Indian media.

"I did not have a good match at all. I think I need to get some runs," he said.

Ganguly's performance at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium may hold the key to India's strategy for the second Test.

If he makes runs, they may opt to play five specialist bowlers in Calcutta in a bid to prevent Australia clinching their first series win on Indian soil since 1969-70.

"Playing five bowlers is an option, but it all depends on how well the batsmen fare.

"What can the bowlers do if the batsmen don't put enough runs on the board?" selector Madan Lal said.

Ganguly did not practice with the rest of the President's side on Monday after missing his flight to delhi.

The team includes leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani, who is hoping to press his claims for a Test recall after failing to make the final eleven in Mumbai.

Australia will have Brad Haddin behind the stumps to allow Adam Gilchrist to rest a sore hip.

Colin Miller, Michael Kasprowicz and Damien Martyn are also likely to come into the side.