KOLKATA — Wrecked by Pakistani seamers in the opening one-dayer, India's under-fire cricketers will have to pull themselves up against their arch-rivals when they clash in a must-win second ODI here Thursday. Down 0-1 after a comprehensive defeat in the Chennai opener, India goes into the tie at the iconic Eden Gardens, trying to rebuild the team after the departure of some of its top stars — the latest being batting great Sachin Tendulkar. Leading a comparatively young side, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni would be keen on reproducing his Chennai batting form in a match where defeat would seal the series in favor of the Misbahul Haq-led Pakistan. In the first game, Dhoni had struck a fighting unbeaten 113, though ultimately in a losing cause, after a top order collapse that saw India tottering at 29-5 at one stage. Of particular worry to the Indian team management is the form of Virender Sehwag, who has aggregated only 216 at a sub-par average of 21.6 last year in the 50-over format. And the single-digit score (4) at Chennai has come at a time when he was expected to shoulder the burden after Tendulkar's retirement. Runs have dried up from Rohit Sharma's blade too. Compounding the batting problems is Virat Kohli's right knee injury sustained during the first game of the series, and youngsters like Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja must be fancying their chances of taking on Pakistan at the Eden. The absence of fast bowler Umesh Yadav has also dented India's bowling prowess, forcing Dhoni to quip about the new ODI rule of allowing two bouncers per over: “Once we get fast bowlers like Umesh Yadav we will try to use it. As of now, we will keep that in our pocket.” Besides the bouncer rule, other changes introduced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and being tried in the series for the first time - two new balls from the two ends and allowing only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle at all times of the match - have also not found favor with Dhoni. The Indian team feels that with five players inside the circle, the spinners will be at a big disadvantage, especially on flat wickets. Also of concern to the host is the fact that it lacks a genuine fast bowling all-rounder and has to use part-timers in the fifth bowler's slot. Equally ill at ease with the rules is Misbahul Haq, though he feels that the fast bowlers would be affected more. With the young fast bowler Junaid Khan, who rattled the Indian top order with a 4-43 effort in the previous outing, already being regarded as another Wasim Akram in the making. Besides dependable pacers Umar Gul and Mohammad Irfan, the visitors have in their ranks spinners of the caliber of Mohammed Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Saeed Ajmal. Among the willowers, 23-year-old opener Nasir Jamshed would strive to continue the momentum after cracking an unbeaten 101 to pilot Pakistan to victory at Chennai. Younis Khan also struck a half-century in that match, while Misbah would hope to be back among the runs after falling cheaply in the series opener. The Eden Gardens has been a happy hunting ground for Pakistan, which has won all three ODIs it has played here against India since 1987. The track has generated interest after veteran curator Prabir Mukherjee had slammed Dhoni for asking for a square turner in the Test match against England last month. The wicket is the same used in the Test match, and Mukherjee said it would be a proper one-day strip assisting strokeplay. It would have bounce for the pacers, with spinners getting some purchase. — Agencies
