Australia coach Tim Nielsen has refused to rule paceman Mitchell Johnson out of the second one-day international against India.

Cricket Australia indicated earlier in the day that the left-armer had succumbed to an ankle injury and would join Brett Lee and James Hopes on the sidelines.

But while fast bowler Lee and all-rounder Hopes are definitely out, Nielsen was more optimistic over Johnson's chances of playing in Nagpur, saying: "We will see how he pulls up after the training session but all the indications are that he might well be available."

The Australian team was left in a quandary following the spate of injuries, and Johnson's fitness offers them a ray of hope.

"I don't remember a team losing three bowlers in one day - it was unusual circumstances," added Nielsen.

"But at this stage Mitchell is not completely out, Brett is probably out for one game and we expect Hopes to miss the next two."