India have no margin for error

Before the home season started, revenge was a word frequently bandied about - a desire to get even against the upstart New Zealanders who had drubbed India in both Tests and one-day internationals last winter, not to mention a chance to exact a measure of retribution - however tiny - against Australia for what happened on March 23.

After two consecutive defeats in the Tri Series, the idea of settling scores has been replaced by the far more pressing need for survival. If India don't outperform Australia tomorrow, and New Zealand in Hyderabad three days later, they'll most likely be locked out of their own party, in front of traditionally frenzied support at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Australia arrived here with what most reckoned was a B-grade bowling attack. Five matches and four wins later, the likes of Nathan Bracken - a genuine contender for a Test place against India in Brisbane - and Brad Williams are evoking respect instead of derision. That particular emotion has been reserved for an Indian team that has lost its way horribly since a tremendous win under lights against Australia in Gwalior.

The pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore appears pretty similar to that used during the Challenger Series two months ago. The grass cover, as it was then, is deceptive, mere window dressing on a pitch that will definitely aid the strokemakers.

The last time these two teams played here, two and a half years ago, Virender Sehwag - then a virtual unknown - shot to prominence with a 54-ball 58 and 3 for 59, as Australia fell 60 runs short of India's 315. The team that wins the toss tomorrow will be eyeing a similarly mammoth total.

India should revert to their strongest line-up for the game, with Sourav Ganguly and Ashish Nehra playing their first games of the tournament. Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh have been battling respiratory problems, in a city notorious for its pollen-heavy and polluted air, but both should be fit for the game. That means a relegation to the players' balcony for Murali Kartik, Hemang Badani and Sairaj Bahutule.

If Nehra is risked, and he hasn't played a competitive game since the World Cup final, that also means Ajit Agarkar will miss out. Rahul Dravid, despite his reluctance, will take the wicketkeeping gloves, with Ganguly having made no secret of his preferred combination. Parthiv Patel can spend time in the nets, sorting out the myriad problems that have taken him from blue-eyed boy to the butt of some ridicule in recent weeks.

Australia go into the game with no worries, and are likely to play their strongest eleven with one eye on the final a week from today. That means that Jimmy Maher, Michael Kasprowicz and Brad Hogg will miss out, despite playing key roles in the defeat of New Zealand two days ago.

The onus is on India to deliver, a day after their finest modern-day fast bowler surrendered in his battle against a chronic knee injury. If the team does likewise, and rain on their own parade, they'll go to Australia like lambs to the slaughter - not that wolves' clothing is much help against these implacable Australians.

Teams
Australia (probable) 1 Matthew Hayden, 2 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Damien Martyn, 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Michael Bevan, 7 Michael Clarke, 8 Ian Harvey, 9 Andrew Bichel, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Brad Williams.

India (probable) 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 VVS Laxman, 4 Rahul Dravid (wk), 5 Sourav Ganguly (capt), 6 Yuvraj Singh, 7 Mohammad Kaif, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Anil Kumble, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Ashish Nehra.