Thaindian News

Kolkata, Oct 24 (IANS) In a fairytale reversal of fortunes, Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led India are eyeing a 5-0 whitewash of England, looking good to win the fifth one-dayer at the Eden Gardens Tuesday — a month after suffering a similar humiliation in the land of the Thames.

If the hosts do manage to pull off a win on Diwali-eve with their youthful side, it will go down as one of the greatest turnarounds ever after a nightmarish tour summer in England when the Indian team was blanked 0-4 in the Tests and 0-3 in the ODIs.

The World Champions have already salvaged their shattered reputation by taking an unassailable 4-0 lead and what could be a better venue for the hosts to end England’s agony than the historic Eden, which, for 77-long years since 1934 has hosted Tests between the two countries, and later ODIs.

It would also be a redemption of sorts for the hallowed ground, which had missed out on a prized India-England tie in the World Cup Feb 27 after an ICC inspection team decreed that the venue would not be ready for the match.

England return to Eden nine years and nine months after losing their only ODI against India here, and it will be difficult for them to reverse the trend with the hosts excelling in all departments — batting, bowling and fielding.

The dead rubber could result in large empty spaces in the stands — a rare sight at the Eden, famed world over for its cricket loving spectators. Those who turn up would look forward to another fine display from the young Indian team.

While established batsmen like Gautam Gambhir (175 aggregate), Virat Kohli (270), and Suresh Raina (141) have fired, the cricket connoisseurs would be keenly watching top order willower Ajinkya Rahane, who shone with a flowing 91 at Mohali.

In bowling, the young spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin jointly lead the wicket tally with seven apiece, while young pacer Vinay Kumar has half a dozen. Ashwin, in particular, has been highly impressive, making things difficult for veteran off-spinner Harbhaajn Singh to return to the side.

Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron have also delivered at the right line and length.

However, with the series already sealed, the Indian team management could consider trying out local boy Manoj Tiwary, who pulled off a brilliant catch in the outfield as substitute fielder in Mumbai.

The Englishmen have looked like travellers in a rudderless ship, failing to negotiate the Indian spinners, or losing the initiative repeatedly after putting the Indian batsmen in trouble.

Though Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Samit Patel have had their moments of glory with the bat, the downhill journey of a team that had looked world beaters only a month back has taken everyone by surprise.

The Eden track looks full of runs, but England could consider bringing in Ian Bell, a good player of spin, and off-spinner Graeme Swan in place of the rookie leg-spinner Scott Borthwick who played in Mumbai.

(Sirshendu Panth can be contacted at s.panth@ians.in)