ICC World T20: Will history and India extend Pakistan's jinx?

There are few surprises in the run-up to an India-Pakistan clash. Media swarms the venue, fans scamper for tickets, restaurants cash in with special screenings coupled with enticing offers and the broadcasters sit back with feet up, assured of TRPs going through the roof. This time here, at the ICC World Twenty20, it will be no different. The stage is set. None of the sides is willing to give an inch. Pakistan has never lost to India at the Eden Gardens, while India has never lost to Pakistan in an ICC event. To top it all, India must win to stay put in the tournament.

It can't be more delicately balanced.

"History can change," Waqar Younis reckoned. "If there is one team that can come back, it's India," reminded Ravichandran Ashwin.

The hosts, Cricket Association of Bengal, have braced themselves to put up a top show, barring their helplessness to pacify the ticket-less fans.

Despite the shift in venue and increase in capacity from 30,000 in the originally scheduled venue Dharamsala to 65,000 here at the Eden Gardens, many of the fans haven't been able to procure tickets through the online process put in place by the ICC and BCCI for all four group matches involving India.

Over the last 48 hours, hoards of fans could be seen lining up, trying their luck for an outside chance to get the priceless ticket. "Why have they brought the match here, if the fans can't buy tickets from the counter," an angry fan among the many hanging around the ground said.

That's the fever off the pitch. On it, it's getting equally hotter.

The Indians - barring Suresh Raina, Pawan Negi and Ajinkya Rahane - chose to rest in their rooms on Thursday. "We wanted to relax," replied Ashwin when asked the reason.

But it was business as usual the pre-match day.

The Indians oiled their machinery under the sun, while the Pakistanis trained under the lights.

The tournament has begun in contrasting fashion for the two sides, putting extra pressure on the hosts.

India lost heavily to New Zealand, followed by Pakistan beating qualifiers Bangladesh comprehensively. That accounted for a yawning gap between the net run-rates (NRR) of the two sides.

Pakistan are second in the group with an NRR of +2.750, while India find themselves at an unexpected fourth place with worrying NRR of -2.350, much worse than even No. 3 Australia (-0.400). The Aussies lost to New Zealand, who now have 2/2 wins and a foot already into the semis.

Top two teams from each of the two Super-10 groups progress to the semis.

That leaves little math to decide that India must extend Pakistan's jinx against them in ICC events to stay alive in the race to semis. And the Pakistan coach was quick to emphasise on that.

"They must be worried that they can crash out of the tournament. History can change. This time pressure is more on them than us," Waqar said.

And India have their reasons to worry.

The much-feared batting line-up could score just 79 in reply to New Zealand's 126 in Nagpur. Barring Dhoni's 30, none of the batsmen stood the Kiwi test, falling like a pack of cards. Will that warrant a change in personnel?

If any, it's Hardik Pandya's place that could be up for grabs for the men on the bench.

Mohammed Shami is fit and it could be the right time to bring him back into the XI on his home ground, but if Dhoni wants to have the option of an allrounder available to him despite resting Pandya, then Pawan Negi or Harbhajan Singh, who has a phenomenal record at the ground, may come into the frame.

The wicket played flat in the match between Bangladesh and Pakistan, where the latter posted 201, with Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez scoring half-centuries and Shahid Afridi getting his batting form back with a 19-ball 49. The Pakistan captain then turned it on with the ball as well with a spell of 2 for 27 to bag the Man-of-the-Match award.

But the focus among the Pakistan bowlers will remain on Mohammad Amir, who wrecked Indian batting during the Asia Cup in Bangladesh last month. The Kolkata crowd will be equally excited to see him running in to bowl, but surely not if he repeats his Asia Cup performance.

It leaves little doubt that Pakistan won't tinker with its winning combination.

However, India vs Pakistan is a different beast and nerves can put a team's plans to bed. The stakes are a lot more higher for India than Pakistan this time, as the hosts stand at the brink of virtual elimination while Pakistan are much more relaxed having started with a win.

Having said that, it will all boil down to who has a better Saturday evening in Eden.