Kolkata, December 4
West coast to east coast, two weeks, all the difference in the world. After winning the first Test in Ahmedabad, India seemed on top of the world. Their world was brought crashing down in Mumbai by the English spinners, who took 19 Indian wickets. The hunter had become the hunted.

In this scenario, it seems counter-intuitive to suggest that India’s defeat in Mumbai — massive in both margin and significance — isn't as bad as it seems. It might seem even like clutching at straws, but MS Dhoni and his boys would like to believe this — that the world isn’t completely without sunshine and light. And they would be justified to an extent.

Fact one: Two England batsmen made practically all the runs for them in the Mumbai win; two England bowlers took nearly all the wickets.

It took a superhuman effort from their genius, Kevin Pietersen, for England to win the match.

Fact two: It was an exceptional bowling by England, especially by their second-choice spinner, Monty Panesar, confronted by ineffectual batting by India. England bowled well on a turner, India didn’t.

Thus, Dhoni would like to believe that there’s no cause to panic, and that he still can see this series through without complete humiliation if they are able to raise their game.

Dhoni would do well to keep positive and hope and work to make it 2-1 for India after Kolkata. He and his players would need to confront some hard facts, though — many of them are under immense pressure to perform. Quite bizarrely, the days before the Test were completely hijacked by what we could term the pitch-publicity committee -- which included local curator Prabir Mukherjee, Dhoni, East Zone curator Ashish Bhowmick and sundry others. Three pitches have been prepared, but the one to be used for the Test is the one on which the recent Bengal- Gujarat match was played, ending on November 20. The match ended in a draw as the Gujarat tail saved their team after they were 18 for five. Only 25 wickets fell in the match.

"Swann and Panesar will enjoy this pitch. They bowl line and length. The pitch will have good pace and bounce," said Mukherjee.

Virender Sehwag hit a brilliant century in Ahmedabad and Gambhir got a half-century in Mumbai, and they need to replicate that performance here. And while Sachin Tendulkar's bad form has been examined threadbare, Virat Kohli’s non-performance (59 runs in four innings) is hurting the team equally, if not more.

The Indian spinners also need to figure out their strategy and its implementation. R Ashwin, Ojha and Harbhajan were ordinary in Mumbai; the track that seemed harmless when they bowled was alive with mortal dangers when Panesar and Swann took the ball. The Indians bowled shorter than ideal, bowled too many loose balls. Aswhin tried to do too much and failed with everything.

Harbhajan, also pedestrian in Mumbai, has a good record at the Eden Gardens but he could miss out on his 100th Test tomorrow if Dhoni opts to include only two spinners in the XI. England seem strong and confident; the only reason they might have to think hard would be on whether to bring in the fit-again Steve Finn in the place of Stuart Broad. 

Kolkata, December 4
Mahendra Singh Dhoni will live by spin, even if it entails danger of death — or worse, humiliation, Mumbai-style — by it. And he’s right.

With the resources they have, India are not going to beat England with pace —not in England, not in India, and certainly not in Kolkata. The last time a paceman took a five-wicket haul in an innings here was in 1999, when Javagal Srinath did it against Pakistan. Despite Srinath, India lost the match.

In the seven Test matches here after that, five of which India won, it’s the spinners who have played the decisive hand. In the last Test played here, against West Indies last year, Dhoni opted to open the bowling with Pragyan Ojha in the West Indies first innings, such was the state of the pitch and the match.

The days when pacemen turned in stunning performances at the Eden Gardens, like Roger Binny, the current selector, did in 1987 against Pakistan, are long past.

Thus, spin it must be at the Eden, despite Mumbai.

Dhoni is not unreasonable in expecting wickets that help spin in India; his fault lies in his inability to be discreet about his demands.

The first two matches have been competitive and thrilling, but talk of the type of the tracks that Dhoni wants, demands, and is denied has overwhelmed the cricket.

Today, on the eve of the third Test, discussion with Dhoni quickly veered round to the nature of the pitch the captain expects in this crucial match.

“When it comes to the subcontinent, it’s about the spinners who play a crucial role. Whatever the result may be, we should stick to those kinds of wickets. That is our speciality,” Dhoni said. “We will stick to the turning tracks. That’s what our strength is. That’s what home advantage means.”

Dhoni says he wants Tests to be played on such tracks to ensure that the advantage of winning the toss is nullified, and both teams have an equal chance. That’s a very admirable sentiment, worthy of being lauded; however, the fact that England were seen as hopeless against spin bowling makes Dhoni’s claims very suspect.

Dhoni is a very smart man, but he’s been outsmarted by the offensive batting of England’s master player, Kevin Pietersen; and the batting performance of his own team. Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann deserve all praise for cracking the Mumbai wicket code – which, it seems, was to bowl at a certain, quick pace, as everyone belatedly found out. But one can’t imagine a great Indian batting unit of the recent past – including, say, masters like Sidhu, Laxman, Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly and Sehwag — letting any spinner pillage the team to such an extent.

Last week, after winning in Mumbai against all odds, England captain Alastair Cook was told that Dhoni wanted more spin-friendly tracks in India. Cook is generally a polite, reticent man when dealing with the press. But hearing of Dhoni wishing for another turner so soon after the loss to England’s spinners, he could not help breaking out in a grin that conveyed an almost indecent delight at the Indian captain’s plight.

Dhoni has no choice, though. It’s up to his team -- his batsmen as much as his vaunted spinners — to back him up. And he’d be in a much better place himself if he got a few runs and didn’t miss catches or stumping chances.

Kolkata, December 4
England captain Alastair Cook, who took over the reigns from Andrew Strauss before the India series, today said that the added responsibility has brought the best out of him.

"May be the added responsibility makes you more accountable to the side. That may have helped my batting...I really don't know if it happened that way but it's nice. "As a captain you always want a good start with the bat... show that you can cope with the demands. That's how it has happened but I can't put a finger on how it happened," Cook said. Stating that he was not someone who believed in the momentum, Cook said, "After the first game it (momentum) was with India but we managed to bounce back in Mumbai. So, not really (think that momentum helps). "With the series at 1-1, and two more matches to go, it's a good place to be as a player. You want to play in big games and that's what we have over the next two weeks. That's exciting." Cook feels that the victory had a positive impact on his team.

"It certainly left us a little more confident and belief that what we are doing is fine. That doesn't mean it is going to count for anything in this match. "What we are doing on spinning tracks is right. But we need to improve on that, and we'll need it. We are going to need some stand-up performances if we are to have a chance," insisted skipper. — PTI

Kolkata, December 4
Senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh today decided to take rest after recovering from a bout of flu and opted out of the Indian team's final practise session ahead of the third Test. "I am fit today but I have been down with flu for the past few days. Since I am recovering from flu, I thought it is better to take rest today," Harbhajan said.

Earlier, skipper Dhoni informed that Bhajji is down with flu. "Harbhajan is down with flu and he stayed at the hotel and did not come down for the practice. We will have to go back to the hotel and check his condition. Only after assessing his condition, we will take a call," Dhoni said.

Fewer int’l series during domestic season: Srinivasan

In order to ensure availability of the top-rung players during the domestic season, BCCI President N Srinivasan says they are looking to establish a "prime" home season, which will reduce the team's touring commitments during that period. "We are starting to look at and define our prime season, and during your prime season you should be playing at home," Srinivasan said. — PTI

Kolkata, December 4
Time will place the Mumbai defeat in its correct historical context, but it seems possible that that shocker could become a significant marker in Indian cricket — and far from a happy one.

The 10-wicket defeat, in shocking defiance of reason and precedent, suggests that India is destined for bad days in Test cricket, even at home.

India are in a state of decline in Test cricket, having peaked in 2010-2011 when they drew the away-series in South Africa and remained the world’s No. 1 ranked team.

The decline thereafter was swift. They were badly buffeted by pace bowling in England and Australia, in a span of some seven months of horror in 2011-2012. Their batsmen were exposed as unprepared, unskilled and technically deficient against pace and swing.

Now, at home, on their own tracks, after winning the toss and enjoying the best conditions to bat in, they were thrashed in Mumbai. By England, whose frailties and failings against spin are numerous and well documented. The visiting team’s spinners grabbed 19 wickets.

Thrashed in India — this must count as the biggest shock to India in Test cricket in the recent decades, ranking even above the defeat to Sri Lanka (in Sri Lanka) in 1985 and the draw with the same team in Chennai three years before that. Defeats in England and Australia in 2011-2012 were ascribed, not without reason, to lack of familiarity with the conditions there. But the defeat in Mumbai leaves the Indians no place to hide. “Can’t play pace abroad” had been the refrain earlier. And now can’t play spin too? On their own tracks? Mumbai could become India’s Waterloo at home. In the post-Ganguly, post-Dravid, post-Laxman — and inevitably, post-Tendulkar —world, India’s strength against spin could turn into a weakness. Spin in Tests is played with skill and patience, lots of patience. Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman emerged as top Test players from a great crop of first-class players. They played for years in the domestic game, against the nations top spinners. That mass of batsmen with first-class cricket on their mind has shrunk, with the spotlight squarely and unwaveringly on Twenty20 cricket. The top players rarely play in Ranji cricket, which anyway is bereft of great spin talent. The Pujaras and Kohlis are still the products of the first-class system, which placed emphasis on the long innings and abhorred elementary mistakes and easy dismissals. The shift to Twenty20, where there is no cost to a bad dismissal if you’ve slogged 20 of 10 balls, is changing mindsets. Sooner rather than later, we’re likely to see how much it would change the Indian team’s fortunes. Just let Tendulkar go. Then we’ll know.

Nadaun, December 4
In a rare achievement, Tripura on Tuesday recorded only their seventh outright victory in the Ranji Trophy when they comfortably defeated Himachal Pradesh by 109 runs in Group C match.

Tripura's first outing in the Ranji Trophy had come way back in 1985. Chasing 359 runs for an unlikely victory on the fourth and final day, Himachal Pradesh were all out for 189 in their second innings at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium.

Tripura, who were 116 for five overnight, could manage just 177 in their second essay largely due to Vikramjeet Malik, who returned impressive figures of 5/36.

Debutant Sanjay Majumdar and his medium pace colleague Rana Dutta were the most successful bowlers for the visitors, finishing with figures of 3/64 and 3/53.

For the hosts, Paras Dogra deserved mention as he cracked an unbeaten century even as the others crumbled. Dogra, who hit 19 fours, remained not out on 106 off 172 balls after last man, Tripura got six points for the win and there was nothing in store for Himachal Pradesh. Meanwhile, Haryana captain Amit Mishra's all-round show helped the hosts beat Delhi by 83 runs in a Ranji Trophy group B encounter at the Bansi Lal Stadium on Tuesday. Chasing a target of 292 on the final day, Delhi were all-out for 209 losing their last six wickets for only 36 runs. India discard Mishra first smashed 74 in Haryana's second innings and came back to grab four for 50 with important wickets of Rajat Bhatia, Puneet Bisht and Mithun Manhas. From being comfortably placed at 173 for four in 44.4 overs, Delhi lost wickets in a heap to get all out in 67 overs.

Brief scores: (Group C) Tripura: 441 and 177 (S Abbas Ali 68, Manisankar Murasingh 63; Vikramjeet Malik 5/36, Rahul Singh 3/51); (HP): 260 and 189 (Paras Dogra not out 105; Sanjay Majumdar 3/64, Rana Dutta 3/53); (Group B) (Haryana 307 & 209 (Amit Mishra 74, Sumit 5/35, Vikas 4/64); Delhi 224 & 209 (Mithun 73, Amit Mishra 4/50). — PTI

Patiala, December 4
The apathy on part of India’s politically sporting bosses has left the Indian sportsmen feel dejected and were quick to share their disappointment, following the International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspending Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Top Indian athletes feel that the decision brings disgrace to the nation as it would ultimately affect the sportsmen the most and further take away whatever little interest the public has in sports.

Top Indian shooter Mansher Singh said that the decision would mean that Indian players would not be playing anymore for India and there would be no Indian Tricolour flying at every win. “This shatters our dreams as a sportsmen as, every athlete loves that his national anthem is played at the win and the national flag fly high”, he stated.

Many Indian sportsmen confirmed that the suspension literally means that Indian players can take part in the Olympics or the Asian games but under the flag of the IOC. “For that also to happen many clearances have to be taken as the IOC has to take that decision”, said a member of a sports federation. "In India where interest in sports except Cricket is already very low, the decision comes as the last nail in India's already packed coffin", he added.

Meanwhile Shooter Abhinav Bindra, India's gold medallist at the Olympics, tweeted: "Bye Bye IOA, hope to see u again soon, hopefully cleaner".

The adamant stand by IOA from the past few days has resulted in this decision, this despite the fact that many top IOA office bearers have termed the decision of suspension as one sided. “We had written to them some days back, but they (IOC) did not reply and now we hear we stand banned”, said a top source in the IOA.

Terming the recent developments in the Indian sporting scene as “unfortunate” Randhir Singh, who earlier had withdrawn his name from the race for IOA president's post stressed on the fact that the rules of the international parent bodies should be followed in letter and spirit. “It is time for self introspection as the International Olympic Committee had already made it clear that it will propose the suspension of IOA in its Executive Board Meeting if the upcoming IOA elections are held under the government's Sports Code. So the folly is somewhere with us”, he said.

Meanwhile National Riffle Association of India president Raninder Singh said that it was a sad day for Indian sports and some middle way has to be found to solve the mess. “If the national flag is not flying, what pride an Indian sportsman have in the games and what will the country look up to”, he said, adding that no official, no delegate could participate in the IOC events. 

New Delhi, December 4
London Olympics silver medallist Vijay Kumar today equalled his best ranking when he scaled to the number 2 spot in the world but even before one could blink, the men's 25-metre rapid fire pistol ace expressed a desire to claim the numero uno spot at the earliest.

"I want to reach the top as soon as possible, and that will be possible if I do well in the World Cups next year, and I can say that I will try my level best," Vijay told PTI.

The 25-metre rapid fire pistol shooter has been hovering in the top 10 for the past couple of years, since attaining the number two rank for the first time in 2009.

"I was number three in October-November. Now, I am number two, but my target is to bag the number one position by winning medals at the World Cups next year," the ever-modest shooter added from his training base in Mohw after the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) issued the list today.

Vijay has 2,665 points compared to top-ranked Pupo Leuris's 3,364. The Cuban won the gold medal in the London Games.

"I am already preparing for the World Cups, because they are my immediate goals, and it is going good." London Games bronze medallist Gagan Narang too moved a place to become number five in the men's 10-metre air rifle category.