DURBAN, South Africa (Reuters)
Indian batsman Rahul Dravid has visited an orthopaedic surgeon in Cape Town in an effort to alleviate the pain he has been suffering in his right shoulder for the past four months.

However, the Indian team management said Dravid would play in the imminent Test series against South Africa whatever the doctor's opinion.

"We decided to send him for a scan early in the tour in order to assess the damage and manage that damage without having to resort to surgery," Indian coach John Wright told reporters.

The injury did not seem to trouble Dravid unduly in the triangular series which ended in Durban on Friday when South Africa beat India by six wickets in the final. Dravid played in all seven of India's matches, scoring 214 runs at an average of 53.50 with three half-centuries – and he also took over the wicketkeeping gloves from Deep Dasgupta for two games.

"Regardless of the outcome of the scan, Dravid will play in the test series," Indian manager MK Bhargava told reporters.

The rest of the squad are still in Durban, where India are playing a three-day tour match against a South African President's XI. The first day's play on Monday was abandoned without a ball bowled after overnight rain soaked the outfield.

The first of three Tests between South Africa and India starts at Bloemfontein on Saturday.

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