Pune Is Ready ...

... to host the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka. It is Diwali time and already the city is celebrating the Festival Of Lights. Now comes the big bonus - an expectation of greater fireworks from the in-form Indian team. The tickets are all sold out and the weather is perfect. Really, you can sense the excitement in the air.

The Sri Lankans practised at the Nehru Stadium yesterday and India will be doing so today. Maybe I will drop in at some time in the afternoon to see if I am in luck. Last time the Indian team was here, I was extremely unlucky - I missed the practice session and nightmarishly was out somewhere when the team virtually came to my home - yes, they had come to the Deenanath Hospital on the request of Lata Mangeshkar which is right nextdoor to the place I live and apparently they climbed out of the bus had some fun with the people hanging around before proceeding.

I did see the match however from the clubhouse and that's where I am going to be from 8 o clock tomorrow. Maybe I will try to carry something to be identified. Keep watching this space for more.

That 2001 team did not fare too well against Australia losing by 8 wickets. Today however there is more than just hope that we will beat Sri Lanka. There is strong belief. For this team has been in excellent form, comprehensively overwhelming the islanders in the first 3 games. Also India has historically done well against them at this venue. It was here in 1990 that Tendulkar scored his first fifty to take India home against Sri Lanka and in 1999 Jadeja stroked a wonderful 100 to register a comprehensive win. The Lankans look lost and while they do have a few quality players to bounce back, really the biggest worry from India's point of view is the Law of Averages.

There were some disturbing rumours doing the rounds about Tendulkar being rested for the game, but fortunately those rumours have been put to rest. Dravid, Harbhajan and Tendulkar are the only 3 players to have played in that Australia game four years ago. Agarkar played here in 1999 but I don't think any of the other players have had a game.

History favors the side batting second at this venue. It is a flat batting track which usually has something for the bowlers early in the morning. In the last 10 matches, the side chasing has won on 8 occasions. However India beat Sri Lanka batting first in 1999. The score of 286 in that game is the highest score here. So I don't expect an obscene 350-ish total. Maybe 290 if a team bats really well. 270 should be a par score and should be chaseable. Having said that the last 2 scores here have been 258 and 248. Both were chased down comfortably by Australia.

The weather here is reasonably cool in the mornings and staying pretty comfortable throughout. Again this suggests help for the bowlers in the first hour or so and a batsman's paradise as the game progresses. I do believe if India bat first, they have the quality in the top order to negate the early assistance Vaas is likely to get. I would expect a more conventional batting line-up in that case. If India field first Pathan and Agarkar are likely to get the ball to do something.

So all in all I think everything is perfectly in order. Here's hoping for a great game and an Indian victory.