Sentiment will aid India’s campaign at Brabourne

There is something nostalgic about playing at the CCI. No member from either side has played a Test here but the Indians will be a lot more kicked at the opportunity to do so as they would have heard a lot about the history of the CCI, writes Anil Kumble.

There is something nostalgic about playing at the Cricket Club of India (CCI). No member from either side has played a Test here but the Indians will be a lot more kicked at the opportunity to do so as they would have heard a lot about the history of the CCI. A Test was to be played here last year against England but 26/11 put a halt to that.

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The Test at Brabourne will be a fitting tribute to Raj Singh Dungarpur. He finally gets his wish although he will not be around to watch. Raj bhai's connection with Indian cricket, the various roles he played, his rapport with the players is widely known as was his love for the CCI, a venue he nurtured with great care.

The pitch at the CCI has always been an interesting one. Having played a few ODIs as well practiced there a few times, I am sure there will be decent carry early on, with the surface slowing down gradually. Not just the pacers, the spinners too can look forward to bowling here more than they would have at either Ahmedabad or Kanpur. There will probably be a bit more spin as the game progresses. Either way, we can expect a good cricket wicket, which is what everyone wants.

The Sri Lankans seem undecided about what to do in their quest to get 20 wickets, which is a must if they are to have a chance of leveling the series. They will possibly go back to the three seamers and two spinners combination, which means one of the three spinners will have to make way.

After picking up five wickets at Kanpur, Rangana Herath will be a definite starter, leaving Kumar Sangakkara with the tricky decision of having to choose between Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis.

Murali's pedigree certainly influenced Sangakkara's decision and he will look to Murali to lead the attack once again. The spinner, for his part, will be keen to finish off what will be his last Test on Indian soil on a high. Murali has been ineffective so far, with the pitches and the aging shoulder taking its toll, but the five days of rest would have done him good.

The Indians look a settled lot though they will miss Gautam Gambhir. The choice he made was the natural one. These days, with so much international cricket being played, it is not unusual for a player to put family first. These are once-in-a-lifetime family occasions and simply cannot be missed. I am sure Gambhir would have informed the team management well in advance.

His absence provides Murali Vijay with another opportunity to make a mark. He made his debut when Gambhir was banned for a Test and he again gets a chance due to the left-hander's absence.

The Indians may be toying with the idea of playing a third pacer but it will be very difficult to leave out Pragyan Ojha, who did a good job in Kanpur.

Hawkeye Communications