By Sirshendu Panth
Kolkata, Feb 13 (IANS) With the world’s top Test slot being the jackpot, a desperate India are likely to effect major changes in a must-win situation as they battle it out with South Africa in the second cricket Test at the Eden Gardens beginning Sunday.

South Africa, on its part, will have to deal with captain Graeme Smith’s finger injury that has rendered him doubtful for the match.

India’s seasoned campaigner V.V.S. Laxman — seven short of completing 7,000 Test runs — and pacer Shantakumaran Sreesanth look set to be drafted into the team besides Suresh Raina, who stands a good chance to make his debut in the longer version of the game, as the hosts fight to save the series after the innings defeat at Nagpur.

An off-colour paceman Ishant Sharma seems under pressure to retain his place in the team, but could still make it if the Indian think tank decide to play three seamers considering the pace-friendly nature of the grassy Eden track. The seamers are also likely to extract movement with more breeze as a couple of galleries have been demolished as part of the ground’s renovation ahead of the 2011 World Cup.

If the selectors continue to repose faith in Ishant, leg spinner Amit Mishra could face the axe, as his efforts went fruitless despite the big turns he achieved at Nagpur.

Murali Vijay and Subramaniam Badrinath also are not certainties for the Test and it won’t be surprising if at least one of them find their place among the reserves.

Local wicketkeeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha, who made his debut in the first Test, has not even been chosen in the squad for the Eden game.

Ahead 1-0, the South Africans need only a draw to win their first series in India in 10 years that will also put them at the top of Test rankings dislodging the hosts from their recently acquired numero uno position.

It was way back in 2000, that the tourists achieved their only series triumph in India, when the Hansie Cronje led side beat the hosts 2-0 with wins at Mumbai and Bangalore.

As for world Test standings, India will retain their leaders’ position, provided they manage to win the match to even the series.

For the South Africans, the biggest worry is the injury to the left little finger of skipper Smith, who Saturday conceded he had a small fracture.

“It’s a small fracture on the joint of the left little finger. But I will try my best to fight through the day and be available for tomorrow’s game. But the big question is whether I will be able to exert to the highest level,” Smith said at the pre-match media conference.

Indian skipper Dhoni indicated his preference for four bowlers, but said the final decision on the team composition will be taken before the match.

With Laxman’s likely inclusion expected to bolster the fragile and inexperienced middle order, which collapsed to the pace and swing of South African quick Dale Steyne at Nagpur, Dhoni was all praise for the stylish batsman. “He is an important part of our batting line up. He rotates the strike and is also capable of hitting boundaries.”

But with the track anything but a turner which India desired, Dhoni seemed upset.

“Each country has its own special wicket. You go to South Africa and you get bounce and seam movement, in New Zealand it is swing and pace. And we are special because balls turn and bounce for the spinners,” he said.

The rivals have played two Tests at the Eden, winning one match each.

The teams (from)

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Murali Vijay, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Subramaniam Badrinath, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Zaheer Khan, Shantakumaran Sreesanth, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Dinesh Karthik and Suresh Raina.

South Africa (from): Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Jean-Paul Duminy, Alviro Petersen, Mark Boucher (wicket-keeper), Paul Harris, Johan Botha, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn and Lonwabe Tsotsobe.

Umpires Ian Gold (England) and Steve Davies (Australia)

TV umpire: Ameish Saheba (India)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)