KOLKATA: There is always a grim predicament to a story that begins on a dreary note. No matter how easy qualification looks like on paper, a wrong turn is enough for the Men in Blue to plummet into a dungeon of no-return.
Pakistan until yesterday looked like another blip in the fixture, but have suddenly turned into a humungous challenge. With history against the hosts, and pressure on the shoulders, the Eden task doesn’t look easy at all.
India failed to read the Nagpur wicket and slumped to a 47-run defeat to New Zealand in the opening match at Nagpur and the quest for the Holy Grail looked more daunting than ever.
India must be exorcising the ghosts of 1996, when they lost to Sri Lanka in the World Cup semi-final at the same venue. Chasing 252 for victory, they lost eight wickets with just 120 runs on board. The match had to be abandoned because of crown trouble. The record against Pakistan is far from encouraging. India have lost on all four occasions against the visitors.
Two days before India’s big match against Pakistan, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly need not be reminded of the sordid incident of 1996. It has been learnt that Ganguly had been checking the pitch everyday ever since the India-Pakistan match was shifted to this venue. Aware that the pitch holds the key, the former India captain is trying to ensure it would be more batsman-friendly than a rank turner. India cannot afford to lose this one.
For the last few days, Ganguly has been monitoring the square closely. The home crowd would be anticipating a fair contest. Ganguly and his men will be keeping their fingers crossed but are expecting a good-scoring game. The pitch, with sprinkling of green during the first match, held good. The ball came off the track and batsmen were able to play their strokes. Pakistan put up a huge total of 201 for five and nothing changed when Bangladesh batted. Mohammad Hafeez, who hit a brilliant 42-ball 64, gave full marks to the wicket. “Overall, it was a good batting surface,” he said. The Pakistan top-order batsman said one should not compare the Kolkata and Nagpur pitches. “Conditions are different.” But the point here is that the ball turned at Eden Gardens as well but not as alarmingly as in Nagpur.
Meanwhile, there was an optional practice session for the Indians, with Suresh Raina, Ajinkya Rahane and new-comer Pawan Negi, turning up along with batting coach Sanjay Bangar.