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ShareWe have not lost a series here in India in 27 years, but I am afraid that little bit of history is now set to change.
India have all but batted Pakistan out of the third Test in Bangalore. Sourav Ganguly carried on with his spectacular innings that began yesterday and Irfan Pathan too joined in the merry making, but Pakistan today suffered simply because they did not have the bowling to test India in any way.
At many points during the second day's play in Bangalore, it looked to me like Pakistan were sitting back and waiting for things to happen. This is a mistake they have made earlier in this series too, and once again, they seemed to be waiting for the Indians to make the mistakes and then capitalise.
To win a Test match, you need to take 20 wickets. At no point till so far, has this Pakistan attack - especially with Shoaib Akhtar struggling with back spasms - appeared even remotely capable of doing that.
The pitch may have produced the odd ball that has kept low, but by and large it has been a good strip for the batsmen. No wonder therefore that we have seen so many records fall.
To all effects, Pakistan have been batted out of this match alread. It was up to Pakistan today to upset India's plans but they just could not do so.
With one wicket down, Pakistan are in real trouble. They have the batsmen to save this Test match, of that I have no doubt. But to play under the hammer almost constantly, as Pakistan have had to do in this series also has its share of pressure.
We saw Salman Butt spin a ball across Pathan's stumps in the afternoon and if a part-time bowler can get that sort of assistance, I wonder just how much more Kumble and Harbhajan Singh will extract from the pitch.
Yasir Arafat may have finished with five wickets, but I am not convinced of his class at this level. Sami once again tried hard, but the biggest disappointment was Danish Kaneria, who has just not looked the part of a key strike bowler right through this series.
It is now up to Younis, Yousuf, Misbah-ul Haq and the other frontline batsmen to see that Pakistan at least leave for home with some dignity intact.
One session in Delhi put India ahead in the series, but I am afraid that Pakistan's opportunity in this match has come and gone. It was there with the home team down at 61 for four wickets. It is now a very different story.
