On Tuesday, 28th October, over a billion people celebrated the Hindu festival of Diwali. Fireworks, sweets, gifts, gatherings - it is a festival that encompasses all of India. The third test match is going to be something like a Diwali festival. Expect plenty of fireworks from both the teams. There will be some sweet moments and some not so sweet. The pitch itself is a “parting gift” to Indian captain Anil Kumble.

In what could be described as a unique opportunity for India, they now have a chance to seal the series in Fortress Delhi. India have won their last 7 matches that they have played in the capital city. They have been unbeaten in the last 21 years in Delhi. The most destructive opening pair in test cricket at the moment are from Delhi. Indian skipper, Anil Kumble, took 10 out of 10 in Delhi. Saurav Ganguly, in his last test series, averages 60.55 here.

Going by the above stats, India look firm favorites to seal this series after a thumping demolition of Australia in the second test match at Mohali. However, cricket does not favor the favorites. One session is all it takes to take a test match away. Australia may be down, but they are definitely not out. It would be a fool to take them for granted no matter who is playing in their team.

Indian selectors, on the other hand, are in a bit of a quandary with the unexpected, yet refreshing, success of Amit Mishra. To make matters more complicated, Harbhajan Singh is now fighting his toe injury to play this test match. Anil Kumble will definitely play as he is pretty much declared fit. Going by his past record, it would be folly to leave him out. Mishra, of the IPL hat-trick fame, would be the most likely to miss out provided Bhajji is fit to play this match. There have been suggestions in the media, that India take out VVS Laxman who has not really clicked in the 2 matches, and play 3 spinners. I believe that is just plain stupidity. In order to win this match, India need specialist batsmen, in particular those who can play a turning ball with ease. No one does it any better than the stylish Hyderbadi.

In my opinion, and harsh as it may sound, Amit Mishra will need to be left out if both Kumble and Bhajji are fit to play. Mishra has proven his worth, and it only a matter of time before he fills in the void that Anil Kumble’s departure will leave in Indian cricket. It is inevitable.

Autralia have their own concerns at the moment. With a pitch that is going to be slow and spinner-friendly, the visitors are in no mans land at the moment. They don’t have a spinner of any quality that could pose problems to the 7 Indian batsmen. Hell, even their pace attack has been completely ineffective, barring perhaps Mitchell Johnson. The mystery of reverse swing has come back to haunt them and definitely exposed a growing chink in their armor.

Talking about reverse swing, the Australians (bowlers and batsmen) have been completely bamboozled by the way Zak and Ishant have made the ball talk. Yet, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson and Stuart Clark have been completely clueless in getting the ball to reverse swing before the 70th over. Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma have been able to do this from the 6th - 8th over of the new ball. For that, all credit has to go to Indian bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad. This is how desperate the visiting side has become - 1) They have decided to copy how the Indians are getting the ball to reverse swing, ie bowl cross seam, 2) They have tried to seek advice from disgraced former player Manoj Prabhakar.

For Indians, it would seem that Diwali is going to happen for another 5 days. Lets hope for a cracking contest.

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