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Heat poses big challenge at Vizag
The oppressive heat, with humidity crossing 90 per cent, is bound to make the second ODI between India and Pakistan a test of fitness and endurance.
With the fluent win at Kochi providing a rocketing start to their one-day campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan, India seem to have quickly laid to rest the morale-shattering loss in the Bangalore Test and would be keyed up to consolidate the advantage with another good show in the second match on Tuesday.
As the hosts' famed batting line up fell like nine pins under three sessions in Bangalore, there was much talk of the visitors having the psychological advantage ahead of the one-day battle.
But the pendulum has swung back after India's convincing 87-run victory at Kochi, with Pakistan now being under pressure to raise their game and take on a resurgent India in the second game of the six-match series.
"The mood in the team is good. We were understandably disappointed after Bangalore but then we have bounced back a bit after Kochi," India vice-captain Rahul Dravid said.
Dravid however expected Pakistan to put up a much better show in Tuesday's match.
"I have full respect for Pakistan. They are a quality side they are going to come back hard at us."
Tuesday would also see a new addition to the growing list of one-day venues in India, with the picturesque HCA-VDCA ground on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam all geared up for the high-profile clash between the two sides which always send passion soaring not only across the border but also in other parts of the world.
The oppressive heat, with humidity crossing 90 per cent, is bound to make the game a test of fitness and endurance and the day will belong to the side that shows greater resilience.
"The heat poses a good challenge. Players have to be smart in the way they manage these conditions and the side which manages the conditions better will finish as winner," Dravid said on Monday.
The Indian batting would once again look up to wonderboy Virender Sehwag, who is going through a fairy tale phase of his career, with the Kochi hundred coming as an icing on the cake after the twin tons in the Test series.
The Delhi opener continues to flatter his supporters and puzzle his cricketing foes with his breathtaking and audacious strokeplay and once again needs to take up the mantle to give an aggressive start to the Indian innings.
