Nagpur, December 11: The India-England series was pitched as a revenge series. Over the last two Tests, the theme has changed completely with Team India suffering a role reversal.
Far from being the avengers, they are the ones at the receiving end now. With back-to-back wins, it is England who are revelling in alien conditions.
As both India and England arrived in Nagpur on Monday for the fourth Test starting on Thursday, it is the hosts who are looking desperately for a win to draw the series and salvage some pride.
Since there has been much talk over the pitches offered for the Tests in the series, the Nagpur track is also in focus now. There is suspense over the nature of the 22 yards with the Vidarbha Cricket Association officials refusing to reveal anything.
However, sources informed TOI that the Indian team management has asked for a rank turner. The bad news is that they won't be getting one.
The Nagpur pitch is likely to be somewhat similar to the Eden Gardens track. Sources said that the pitch will be dry but it will offer more bounce than the Eden wicket.
It seems, Indian skipper MS Dhoni, who was happy with only the Mumbai pitch, is in for more disappointment. Traditionally, the pitch here has been a balanced one. It has offered something to every one - the batters, the pacers and the spinners.
India have so far played three Tests at the Jamtha stadium, winning two and losing one. The last two Tests played here have ended within four days. But the pitches were by no means a bowling paradise.
Against South Africa, in 2010, it was Dale Steyn who exploited the bounce to rattle the Indians after South Africa has amassed a 500-plus total in the first innings. India lost the match by an innings.
In the last match, against New Zealand, Ishant Sharma took seven wickets as India won by an innings margin. The Indian spinners accounted for 11 wickets.
This time around, Ishant has lost the nip while the England batsmen have shown much more skill and determination than the Kiwis in 2010.
Those are the two traits MS Dhoni and his team would need to show if they want to square the series, whatever the nature of the pitch.
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