CricDigs Blogs

One memory that is spurring on the Indians and haunting the Aussies is that of Kumble’s 10-wicket haul against the Pakistanis a few years back. Why do these memories still make sense? Simply because the Kotla pitch looks the one similar on which Kumble claimed 10 wickets. Further, because the Kotla is famous for producing results. The last seven test matches have all seen results, early in the fifth or the fourth day itself. The problem that the Aussies face is the rough nature of the pitch. No matter how easy it looks to bat upon for the first day or two, the pitch is basically abrasive in nature. This is something that every domestic cricketer in India and the curator vouch for. No matter how much rolling and sprinkling of water is done, the Kotla pitch is a dry, dry turner in its true essence. This poses problems for the Aussies and a quandary for the Indian camp.

The Aussie Predicament — the slow nature of the pitch doesn’t suit the batting style of the likes of Hayden, Ponting and Haddin. Hayden has been susceptible to the low-bounce deliveries that tend to just bend in a bit. The abrasiveness of the surface means that the reverse swing factor would come in early in the match. This is something that has got the Aussies confused during this series. Further, the slow turner is of great assistance to the likes of Bhajji and Mishra. Now, Kumble would be backing himself to make a grand return on his most favourite pitch and nail the Aussies in the capital city, meaning the pitch induces confidence in the Indian captain, again a negative for the tourists. The short square boundaries mean that the two opening batsmen for India, both Sehewag and Gambhir, if not tamed early could wreck havoc on the medium pacers of Australia. Again, both Sehewag and Gambhir have grown up on the Kotla – this is where they began playing cricket, Kotla being their home ground.

The Indian Quandary — whom to drop — Kumble or Mishra? What kind of a combination to choose — six or five batsmen? The top five batsmen choose themselves, so can they really axe the likes of Ganguly or Laxman? Ganguly has been in his silken touch. The slow pitch could translate into Viru being used as a fifth bowling option, so the six batsmen theory does have more sensibility attached to it. Should they alter the balance of a match-winning team just to accommodate a captain who is not in the best of touch?