India's ploy to prepare a spinning track might have backfired as England registered a 10-wicket win in the second Test, but host captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he would like to have a similar pitch for the third game, starting at Kolkata on December 5.
"Of course, we want a similar track as that's where our speciality is. What's the point playing on flat tracks and trying to win the toss and just batting for 3 or 4 days," said Dhoni after England inflicted a humiliating defeat on India in the second Test here to level the four-Test series 1-1.
"You want to face challenges in Test cricket and these are the sort of wickets that push you towards that, so definitely all the wickets should be like that," he added.
Insisting that he would like a typical sub-continental wicket in Kolkata as well, Dhoni said, "I would like a typical sub-continental wicket, which should turn from the first day as I have been saying, so that there is no importance of toss and whichever team plays better cricket wins the game.
"You feel a bit disappointed (at losing) but the good thing about these wickets is no side is guaranteed to win and have to play well to win. That's why I call for a track that starts to turn early."
Dhoni had asked for a turning track despite India winning the first Test by nine wickets on a low and slow pitch at Ahmedabad's Motera stadium to go 1-0 up in the series.
Though his demand was met by the Wankhede curator, the hosts slumped to a huge defeat, unable to cope up with the left-arm spin of Monty Panesar and off spinner Graeme Swann.
Heaping praise on Panesar, who grabbed 11 wickets in the match, Dhoni said, "Monty bowled exceptionally well. Spinners from both sides bowled well but it was different to what Monty bowled. He was drawing the batsman to come on to the front foot more and was getting some turn too."
"Let's see the wicket in Kolkata. If you remember at the pre-match conference (in Mumbai) when I said we will go in with 2-2 combination but we had a closer look at the wicket and felt may be the third spinner would be a better option.
"Thankfully we were right. It was a one-dimensional attack when you look at it on paper but I think that's what was needed because in the last innings you hardly saw the fast bowlers doing a lot of bowling," said Dhoni.
Dhoni ruled out any major changes in the team.
"We have replacements but you don't chop and change or rotate the players just on the basis of one or two Test matches. You have to give them a fair run. That's what it's all about. Otherwise we will keep changing players in every game. It's good to give the players a fair amount of games so that they are also comfortable and are not thinking about the selections," he insisted.
The Indian team selection for the remaining two Tests will be held in Mumbai tomorrow.
On why he did not recall Jonny Bairstow after he was wrongly given out in the second innings, Dhoni said, "Is it only my job to call back everyone or something that the umpires will also do?
"There are replays that show the batsman is lbw why can't opposition say...no, no my batsman is out, you come back and somebody will go (out to bat). Umpires are getting handsome payments and are supposed to take some decisions."