The pressure will be on India when they meet the Australians in the second Test match, beginning at the Chinnaswamy stadium, Bangalore tomorrow. Australia enjoys a good record here, having won two Tests, while India could defeat them only once in 2010. That was Cheshwar Pujara’s debut match and after failing in the first innings he batted nicely in the second essay. Sachin Tendulkar, the little master was the hero of that match, scoring a superb double hundred. He always succeeded against the Aussies at this venue.
And going back to the 1998 Test, I remember, because I covered that series Sachin hammered the Aussies attack, scoring big hundreds in that three-match series which India had won 2-1. But at Bangalore, despite Sachin’s brilliant big hundred in the first innings India lost. VVS Laxman and Navajot Sidhu opened for India, but didn’t make big scores. Micheal Kasporowiz bowled excellently, running through India’s batting in their second innings on the fourth morning, which brought the Aussies back in the game. Then the Australian captain Mark Taylor made a superb century as they chased the below 200 target quite comfortably to win the match, avoiding the humiliation.
Now just 14 hours to go for the second match to begin, nobody is sure of how the wicket will be playing. It looks dry is for sure, but it can’t be worse than Pune, where the curators had to face lot of criticism. Generally batsmen enjoy at Bangalore, while the bowlers can get some help from day three onwards.
The Aussies have already announced the same playing XI and the question is whether India is going make any specific changes. According to Kumble, the team coach, they might retain Rahane in batting. That means the local boy Karun Nair has choice and has to wait for his further appearance. Since Hardik Pandey is not totally fit he may not be considered. So India might continue with the same squad, but they have to work harder now to level the series first, before hoping to win the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
By Sudeer Mahavaadi – DD Commentator
