Almost like playing away

Going by past results, Pakistan have the edge in Saturday8217;s match. India8217;s abysmal record apart, Pakistan have won both matches th...

Going by past results, Pakistan have the edge in Saturday8217;s match. India8217;s abysmal record apart, Pakistan have won both matches they8217;ve played here against India in 1986-87 and Sri Lanka in 1998-99. Given the short boundaries, a flat pitch and green-carpet outfield, Keenan favours the big hitters

Revenge of the goliaths
1983-84: India vs West Indies
Brief scores: West Indies 333-8 in 45 overs beat India 229-5 in 45 overs This was the revenge series right after the World Cup. Gordon Greenidge 115 and Viv Richards 149 smash the Indian bowlers out of sight to set up a mammoth total in just 45 overs

Mismanagement
1984-85: India vs Australia
Brief scores: India 21-2 in 5.1 overs Match called off owing to late arrival of both teams8217;player kits

That man Javed
1986-87: India vs Pakistan
Brief scores: India 265-3 in 44 overs lost to Pakistan 266-5 in 43.2 overs In his first match as an opener, Manoj Prabhakar scores a century 106 and, with Gavaskar, sets up India. But Javed Miandad slams 78 off just 71 balls to win it for Pakistan

Neil8217;s the star
1992-93: India vs England
Brief scores: India 137-7 in 26 overs lost to England 141-4 in 25.4 overs Six years on, same script. A rain-affected lottery of a match where Neil Fairbrother hit a 52-ball 53

Crowe8217;s singing again
1995-96: India vs New Zealand
Brief scores: India 236 in 49.1 overs lost to NZ 237-2 in 46.5 overs Prabhakar8217;s 83 boosts India but ageing star Martin Crowe makes his last stand,a stroke-filled 107

Dada comes alive
1999-2000: India vs South Africa
Brief scores: SA 199 in 47.2 overs lost to India 203-4 in 47.1 overs New skipper Ganguly smashed a typical 105 as India ran home easy winners. But this series will be remembered for all the wrong reasons

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Sarwan spoils Ajit joke
2002-03: India vs West Indies
Brief scores: India 283-6 in 50 overs lost to WI 285-6 in 50 overs India promoted Ajit Agarkar to No 3 position and he repaid with a sparkling 95. Then Wavell Hinds 93 and Ramnaresh Sarwan 83 led West Indies to a thrilling last-ball win

KEYS TO THE CONTEST

		The Big-Hitters: The humidity isn8217;t half as bad as Kochi and Vizag and the boundaries even shorter. Add to that a lightning outfield and a wicket that has yet to wake up since the last international match was staged and that is enough invitation for the big-hitters Virender Sehwag, Shahid Afridi and MS Dhoni to puncture holes in the advertising boards Naved Ul Hasan: After a battering in the Mohali Test, the medium-pacer has been Pakistan8217;s best bowler in the ODIs. Especially his 3-54 in the run orgy at Vizag, where his wickets were Messrs Sehwag, Dravid and Kaif. With Sami out, Naved will be key to Pakistan8217;s fortunes Ashish Nehra: Did for India what Naved8217;s done for Pakistan. His crucial wicket of Salman Butt at Kochi deflated the Pakistani chase. At Vizag, he bowled Shahid Afridi for a duck before packing off Butt and Yousuf Youhana at crucial stages of the match. If only he could work as seriously on his fielding and using the long handle.