After the high, the blows

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Mohali: Barely had the Indian team recovered from the hangover of Saturday night’s win when they were hit by two large doses of bad news. Two of their top three batsmen are doubtful for Monday’s game against Australia, with the series increasingly resembling a medical drama. The winners of this seven-match slugfest will, literally, be the Last Men Standing.

Opener Virender Sehwag, with a crushed toe, and one-drop Gautam Gambhir, who was hit on the back of his head by a Ponting shot while fielding at short-leg, may be forced to sit out of the game even as Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is forced to juggle his playing eleven — much like his rival number Ricky Ponting.

The Indians have called in Dinesh Karthik as cover for the injured players, but will still be hoping that at least one of either Sehwag or Gambhir make it to the playing eleven. India have the momentum on their side, having won two games on the trot against a disintegrating Australian side, but a slip in either of their weak links — bowling or fielding — could easily change the storyline. Ponting has won the toss in each of the three games but his horses-for-courses decisions hasn’t really come off.

With Yuvraj Singh back in form and Dhoni shedding his inhibitions at No 5, the Indian batting looks strong. On the other hand, Brett Lee’s absence due to injury has taken out whatever sting the Australian bowling had. But without Sehwag and Gambhir, the Indian batting at the top will be considerably weakened and, to some extent, restore parity between the teams.

Either way, despite Saturday’s defeat, Ponting will want to bat first every time he walks out for the toss, and deny the Indian strokeplayers first use of the conditions, irrespective of what effect the dew has while bowling under lights.

Sachin milestone in sight

One man who would want to turn things on at the PCA stadium is Sachin Tendulkar, despite a sluggish start to the series, and the pitch here might turn out to be more to his liking. It should play true, with even pace and bounce, allowing batsmen to hit through the line. There is also a light covering of grass on the wicket that should keep the fast bowlers on both sides interested — depending on how much of it remains on match day.