India look to wrap-up series with win

NAGPUR: By force or design, the Indian team spent the last two days relaxing and unwinding at the team hotel. Many players paid visits to various temples even as the Orange City was blessed by unseasonal showers on Thursday and Friday.
That is why MS Dhoni and his team will be keeping an eye on the weather as they look to reach their best playing form befitting their top billing in world Test rankings. As they head into the third and deciding Test match of the series against New Zealand, at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha from Saturday, they will be keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that all their prayers would be answered.
Given the dead pitches on offer thus far in the series, it was hardly surprising to see the Indian captain heading straight to have a good, close look at the 22-yard rectangle. Of course, going by past experiences, Dhoni would know that studying a pitch can be very dicey. And yet, it's not just about the pitch that Indians need to worry about. In the absence of their pace ace Zaheer Khan, the hosts will have to find a way to pick 20 wickets against an opposition which has batted with surprising authority.
Thus, the hosts need to play some inspired cricket on a wicket which finally may have something in it for the spinners. In the first two Tests, Harbhajan Singh has been India's unexpected hero with the bat, becoming the first No. 8 batsman in history to get back to back hundreds in Tests. However, given the current situation, the onus will be on the mercurial off-spinner to stand up and be counted.
Indeed, how Harbhajan Singh and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha bowl will hold the key to India's chances in the Test. The good thing is that Dhoni has a lot of faith in Harbhajan. "I think he is doing pretty well. He has been bowling well although he hasn't been lucky because quite a few catches have gone down. If he continues to bowl the way he has been bowling, he will get wickets," said Dhoni.
As for New Zealand, placed No 8 in Test rankings and still searching for their first series win in India, just to defy the hosts has been a great achievement. Their batters have showcased tons of patience and skill with Tim McIntosh, Jesse Ryder and Kane Williamson getting hundreds before the dangerous Brendon McCullum turned it on with a double hundred.
Pacer Chris Martin and skipper Daniel Vettori with his left-arm spin have been impressive too.
With their pride at stake, it will be the Indians who have to do all the running if they are to clip the Kiwis' wings.