MELBOURNE, Dec 20: Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will be out of international cricket for five months after undergoing an operation on his bowling hand here on Friday.

India physiotherapist Andrew Leippus said the operation to repair a ruptured ligament was successful but Harbhajan would be in plaster for two weeks and would need at least three months rehabilitation before he could start net bowling.

Leippus said if he had opted to have an operation when he first consulted Dr Greg Hoy after World Cup he would have recovered in time to have played in current series against Australia.

Instead, Harbhajan elected a more conservative approach and chose to have cortisone injections and physiotherapy on the injury to knuckle of his middle finger of his right hand.

“The finger was fine before he left India,” Leippus said. “But it flared up again after first Test.”

Harbhajan will stay with the team until end of Test series. He will have his stitches removed and then do some early rehabilitation with Leippus.

“I’m in good spirits. It’s over and done with. I can now look forward to recovery,” bowler said after the operation.

Harbhajan, who destroyed Australia in India in 2001 with 32 wickets in the three-test series, took 1-169 in first Test.—PPI