A viral fever could keep Harbhajan Singh out of the third Test against Australia, beginning in Nagpur on Tuesday.

The ace off-spinner did not turn up for practice on Monday and team sources said he was resting.

"He has a viral infection. His chances of playing are 50-50, but we are hopeful of him recovering.

"A decision whether to play Harbhajan will be taken on Tuesday morning before the match."

Harbhajan has done well in the series thus far, claiming 11 wickets in the first Test in Bangalore and five in the Chennai Test.