India would be boosted by the return of inspirational skipper Rahul Dravid [Images] as they begin their quest to redeem their pride in the three-Test series against South Africa beginning in Johannesburg on Friday.

Dravid, who picked a freak finger injury during the one-dayers, has been cleared to bat although he would not field at his usual position in the slips.

That, however, should not be of much concern as the embattled Indians desperately need his services in the fragile middle order which will also see the return of Sourav Ganguly [Images] to the Test ranks after a gap of ten months.

Ganguly staked his claim for a Test berth with a gritty 83 in the warm-up match at Potchefstroom but there would be no such consideration for Irfan Pathan [Images] who had struck an unbeaten century in tough conditions in the same match.

Obviously, it is not Pathan's batting but the bowling which would keep him out of the playing eleven on the morrow on a greenish track at the Wanderers.

Dravid virtually ruled out Pathan for the first Test stating that he had not been bowling to his potential.

"He has bowled better than he has recently and there's no doubt about it. He is working hard but I have always believed that your best 11 players must play. If Irfan figures in the best 11, he would play," he said.

Also out of contention for a place in the eleven, according to team sources, are spinner Harbhajan Singh [Images], still recuperating speedster Munaf Patel [Images], left-arm opener Gautam Gambhir [Images] and wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Kartik.