Tendulkar bets on India as Pakistan eye rare series win

KOLKATA: Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday predicted an Indian comeback even as Pakistan looked supremely confident of achieving a rare series triumph by winning the second One-day International here at the Eden Gardens on Thursday (today).

Pakistan’s optimism doesn’t just spring from the fact that they have never lost against India here or that the tourists came across as a much better team than the hosts in a six-wicket win in the series opener last Sunday in Chennai.

One of the prime reasons why Misbah-ul-Haq and his team-mates were exuding confidence in the lead up to today’s game is that the Pakistanis know that India are under a lot of pressure due to a series of below-par showings in recent times.

Then, Misbah is also aware that unlike India’s inexperienced attack, the Pakistani arsenal is full of wicket-taking options and is capable of flooring the home team even on what is expected to be a batting strip at the Eden Gardens.

The Pakistanis held two extensive training sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday and it was visible that they are taking nothing for granted.

Misbah has been telling his troops to further lift their game by stressing that they were more lucky than good in Chennai where youngsters Junaid Khan and Nasir Jamshed were the main heroes for the visitors.

He must be hoping that the duo clicks again but perhaps more importantly the captain would be looking towards the experienced Younis Khan to continue his golden form at the Eden Gardens – one of his fovourite hunting grounds.

Younis, who was dropped for the ODI series against Australia in the UAE due to indifferent form, rescued Pakistan who were gasping for air at 21-2 in the 11th over in Chennai by hitting a superb fifty.

“The dressing room atmosphere is very relaxed, there is no pressure at all. All that the captain has told us is to try and play well, implement game plans and make sure we do not succumb to pressure. Misbah has been giving everyone a lot of confidence,” said Younis, who enjoys a great record against India.

In nine Tests, he has piled up 1321 runs at a fantastic average of 88.06, with five tons and four fifties and a highest of 267. He has also ammassed 1229 runs in 34 ODIs at 40.96, with three hundreds and seven fifties.

Younis has scored two hundreds in two Tests at Eden and now wants to hit one in an ODI. “I have a good record at this ground and I hope I can play a knock that will help Pakistan win,” he said.

India, meanwhile, would be hoping that its much-vaunted batting line-up would wake up from a deep slumber.

India’s top five batters couldn’t even reach double figures in Chennai where captain MS Dhoni saved his team from embarrassment with an unbeaten 113.

The Indians last lost a bilateral series to Pakistan in 2005, at home. They would be hoping to avoid Pakistan from achieving their 11th series win over them.

A loss in today’s game would mean India’s second series loss in less than a fortnight after England recorded their first Test series triumph (2-1) on Indian soil in 28 years.

Sachin Tendulkar’s message that the hosts would “bounce back” at Eden must have lifted the Indian dressing room.

“Though I’m not a part of the ODI team any longer, my heart is still with them and I’m sure the team would bounce back to its rightful place,” he told reporters.

But for India to bounce back, they would need players like misfiring Virender Sehwag to click against the likes of Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan.

Sehwag, who had a poor 2012 in which he accumulated 217 from 10 matches, fell cheaply in Chennai.

There was some good news for India on Wednesday when Dhoni declared that Virat Kohli is fit for today’s match.

“Virat is available for selection for the match,” Dhoni said after the team’s net practice here.

There was a big question mark on Kohli’s availability after he had a nasty fall and hurt is right knee while bowling the 41st over in Chennai.

The prolific batsman was immediately taken off the field and did not come back as Pakistan cruised to a six-wicket win with 11 balls to spare.

While Dhoni confirmed Kohli’s availability he made it clear that the final playing eleven would only be named on Thursday morning.

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