The first one-dayer in Guwahati saw both India and Pakistan dishing out somewhat of an indolent performance.

But the former, being more clinical, emerged winner. Now, the second game of the two-match series offers both the teams a chance to come up with something livelier - in keeping with the tradition of Indo-Pak contests that often have spectators on the edge of their seats.

The hosts, however, once again will be the overwhelming favourite for Thursday's game to be played at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium. They may have drawn first blood in Guwahati in the five-match series, but that is the only one factor for their superiority over their arch-rivals here.

The men in blue adapted better on a pitch that was slow and had variable bounce in Guwahati. The Indian bowlers were admirably steadfast while restricting Pakistan to a manageable total. Then, their batsmen came up with a disciplined effort to overhaul the target.

Different one

But the PCA stadium pitch will be a vastly different one, as the track here has traditionally favoured the fast bowlers. Both the teams boast of a number of quality pace bowlers in their ranks and another riveting battle between bat and ball can't be ruled out.

The nature of the pitch - the same track where South Africa bowled Pakistan out for 89 in last year's Champions Trophy - might tempt the Indian team management to sacrifice a spinner in favour of a fast bowler.

Since winter is yet to arrive in this part of the world, the effect of dew will be a factor in the second part of the match and is likely to make it tough for the spinners to grip the ball. Similarly, pacemen will get considerable assistance from the pitch at the start of the second session - the most crucial period of the match.

If they go in with the four-pacemen move, Kerala fast bowler S Sreesanth might get a place in the eleven. But an area that has been of concern for the Indians has been the inability of the bowlers, especially pacers, to stem the run flow in the slog. Pakistan batsmen exploited that in the previous match. The Indians conceded over seven runs an over and helped Pakistan post a fighting total.

Extra hours

They will have to polish that area, and quickly at that. It will not only help in this match, but for the remainder of the series and season as well. Bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and his wards have been devoting extra hours at the nets, and hopefully it will fetch the desired results.

The other question India face is over Virender Sehwag. The Delhi dasher has been included in the squad for the first two games, but his state-mate Gautam Gambhir was preferred for the first tie. If the team management decides to bring in Sehwag here, they will have to make the tough choice of leaving out either Gambhir or Robin Uthappa.

However, Sehwag, who joined the team immediately after the demise of his father, needs an outing to feel entirely part of the team. And a good score will only boost his confidence.

The visitors too face an almost similar dilemma over the batting position of Kamran Akmal. The wicketkeeper-batsman has come as an opener in the last few matches, but without too much success. Pakistan think-tank will certainly mull whether to retain him as an opener or bat him lower down the order, while drafting a specialist opener in Imran Nazir or promoting the maverick Shahid Afridi to the pole position. 

They are also likely to recall left-arm paceman Sohail Tanvir to the starting line-up in place of either pacer Rao Ifitikar or left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman.

Teams: 

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth, Murali Kartik, Praveen Kumar, Rudra Pratap Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan.

Pakistan: Shoaib Malik (captain), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdur Rehman, Kamran Akmal, Yasir Hameed, Shoaib Akhtar, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Gul, Shahid Afridi, Iftikar Anjum, Imran Nazir, Fawad Alam, Salman Butt, Sohail Tanvir, Fawad Alam.

Umpires: Ian Gould (England), Suresh Shastri.

Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka). Timings: 1430 hours to 1800 hours and 1845 hours to close of play.