India go into the Bangalore Test leading 1-0 in the series, needing a draw to securing a series victory. The usual story in such an instance, especially with the opposition not having threatened at all with the ball with the bat in the 2nd Test would be one where the side in the leading would reiterate its committment to chasing a win and not sitting on a lead, while the side trailing the in series would claim to have found a second wind thanks to their stirring fight back in the 2nd Test. This is India v Pakistan however, and this series, even though it is devoid of the usual needle (enemies going at each other at cricket and all that stuff), has had its own share of swings and round abouts.
Both sides have been decimated by injuries on the eve of the Bangalore Test. This is something which might have been expected with three back to back Test matches. Only a few years ago, the thought of playing "back-to-back Tests" would have merited a comment from TV Pundits. Nowadays, its par for the course. In this instance, the usual injuries due to wear and tear have been supplemented by sickness. Shoaib Akthar, Misbah Ul Haq, Mohammad Sami and a few other Pakistan players have been sick. In addition to this Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif have both been ruled out of the series due to injuries. On the Indian side, Tendulkar is a doubtful starter with a knee injury aggravated during training. Munaf Patel, RP Singh and Zaheer Khan have all been rendered hors de combat. Dhoni is injured as well. Some of the players have doubtless been ruled out keeping an eye on the upcoming Australia tour, where India are likely to travel with a few players recovering from niggles. If this was a do-or-die Test match with the future of life itself hinging on it, then many of those players might have played, much like Shoaib played at Kolkata when he should have been tucked up in bed.
On the Pakistan side, there is also the question of captaincy. Shoaib Malik has a tenuous hold on a Test spot. It is hard to imagine that his original deputy was Salman Butt, until good sense prevailed and Younis Khan was recruited for the number 2 job. Younis Khan's reluctance to become captain has led to speculation (in that peculiar way in which the press can manufacture it) that he is reluctant to lead the squad in Bangalore in Shoaib Malik's absence. Younis of course has denied any such reluctance. He doesn't want to be Captain of Pakistan, but will do the job during the Bangalore Test. If his past efforts are anything to go by, he will do a very fine job.
Then there has been the "miscommunication" between Rauf and Rao - two unfortunately similar names which belong to two of Pakistan's fringe fast men. Abdur Rauf was apparently supposed to join the Pakistan side until it turned out that it was infact Rao who was coming. This quickly gave rise to the speculation that Younis wanted Rauf, but got Rao. All Younis would say in the matter was a cryptic "It goes without saying that a captain should have a big say in team selection".
As you can see, to suggest that there are swings and roundabouts is an understatement here. But wait - the icing on the cake is the fact that this is an untested, virgin wicket! It is newly laid, and nobody knows how it will play. The 1996 World Cup semi-final was played on a newly laid wicket and that one didn't last very long. In other instances, newly laid wickets have lasted quite long. This newly laid wicket has been prepared under supervision of two experts from New Zealand. BCCI was blamed (typically - i sometimes wish they didn't have such a conveniently simple acronym. If it was difficult to use, they might not have been blamed so much) for the Kolkata wicket. It should be noted that the Bangalore wicket is being prepared by the authorities in Bangalore, not by BCCI. The wickets, and the ground belong to the local association. The responsibility lies with them too. It remains to be seen how this wicket will play. If it turns out to be "slow and low", you know who will get the rap.
Finally of course, there is history. India have lost twice to Pakistan at Bangalore, both times in final Test of a series. In 1986-87, they lost a close game on a horror wicket where Sunil Gavaskar made an epic 96 in the 4th innings before being caught close in off his forearm protector. Maninder Singh took 7-27 in the Pakistan first innings. Iqbal Qasim and Tauseef Ahmed bowled Pakistan to victory. In 2005, it was Inzamam who laid the foundations for Pakistan, making an unforgettable 184 on the first day. Virender Sehwag replied with 202 when India batted, but his dismissal, trying to worked a leg break from Danish Kaneria pitched outside off stump to midwicket only to be caught and bowled, sparked a batting collapse which left VVS Laxman stranded. Shahid Afridi then made a rude century as Pakistan raced to set up a declaration. India collapsed on the final day.
For Anil Kumble, his first series as captain could not possibly have been a greater mess. The redeeming feature is that he hasn't lost. He will hope that this does not come to pass in his first Test as captain on his home ground. It will be a great occasion for him. I hope Rahul Dravid can mark the moment with his first Test hundred at KSCA. It will be a battle against history for Kumble and India to win the series.
Even though many of India's supporters will frown at this supposedly defeatist ploy, i think India would do well to go into the match with the extra batsman. My line up would be Wasim Jaffer, Dinesh Karthik, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, VRV Singh. It is disappointing that Munaf Patel will miss out on what may be the one wicket in this Test series which might have suited him. But then again, when Indian players are out injured, he's unlikely to not make that list. I do hope that Tendulkar plays though.
I should leave you with the thought that Younis Khan made 267 and 84 not out at Bangalore in 2005, and that India made 449 in their first innings and still lost by 168 runs.
Bangalore awaits....