The four match Test series between India and England is exactly at its half-way stage and one can say that it has been a true see-saw battle. India won the first Test comprehensively by nine wickets at Ahmedabad. After the match all the cricket pundits said that there is a very good chance that India will complete a white-wash and will avenge the embarrassment they faced a year ago.

But things changed drastically in Mumbai, Indian team were ready to take an unbeatable lead in the four match Test series, the stage was set, the pitch was according to the home captain’s choice. But one it will be only fair to say that England outplayed India in every department and dominated the home team for the most part of three days and one session. The end result was that India suffered a humiliating 10 wicket loss.

So, the focus is now on Eden Gardens, the ‘Mecca’ of Indian cricket and the venue for the third Test. This Test is critical for the Indian team and the home team can’t afford a bad game. All the pressure is on India as this Test can have mighty effect on the future of Test cricket in India. The selectors who were supposed to pick the team for two Tests, picked the squad for only the Kolkata squad. Giving clear signals that they have had enough and the struggling players will have to pull up their socks or else they might be out for a long time.

The Test is crucial for one of the greats of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar is horribly out of form and will be desperate for a good innings. He is not the only Indian batsman short of runs, there is a whole list of players for whom this Test will be a matter of life and death. Same is the case with the Indian bowlers.

Even before the start of the match, the pitch controversy between MS Dhoni and the local curator has spiced up the matter. The curator denied to come up with a rank-turner forcing the BCCI to step in and now the curator is on a month long sick leave.

The only thing which looks in the favor of the Indian team is there record at the Eden Gardens. Till now India has played 37 test matches at the venue, they have won 10 matches, lost 8 and have drawn 19 matches.

The record does not look that impressive, but the things that will bring a smile to the face of an Indian fan is the fact that the last Test that India lost in Kolkata was way back in 1999. Indian spectators will remember the Test match by the incident involving Shoaib Akhtar coming in the way of Sachin Tendulkar resulting in his run-out.

So, it has been almost 13 years that India has lost a Test match at the Eden Gardens. From that match till now, India have played nine matches at the venue and have won six matches and drawn three. India have beaten the best teams at the venue like Australia, South Africa and Pakistan.

For Sachin, Eden Gardens has not been great compared to his overall record but his record is good to say the least. The little master has played 11 matches in Kolkata and he averages 48.81. He has got two hundreds at the venue. One of his hundred has come in a winning cause and Sachin will be desperately hoping for one such effort in the coming match.

Overall, the Indian team should not panic as it has been more than a decade that they were beaten here.         
            

By Indian Sports News Network