Battle of Bangalore. Equal opportunity for both India and Pak

What all can India do on the Fourth day to weed out Pakistan resistance

Just bowl straight and hope for pitch to do something, or pray that the Pakistani players run out of patience. Some times the ball is keeping so low that if it is straight, a wicket is certain.

More overs needed for Yuvraj. His last over today was a revelation. Two of the six deliveries almost got Misbah just because they failed to bounce. May be there is something he can do on this pitch which others can’t.

Realise that they are already 1-0 up in the series and in virtually no chance of losing this test. Crowd the opposition with as many fielders as Possible. Pakistan will be happy to escape with a draw.

Enforce the follow on if the opportunity arises. Pakistan will dread the possibility of batting again without a break on this track.

And what can Pak do to ensure that India remain on the backfoot

Low backlift as Misbah has shown throughout his essay. That will be important to counter the balls which can rattle the stumps by their lack of bounce.

Never lose a run-making opportunity to inch closer to the follow on mark, and then deficit reduction endeavour. There will be ample gaps in the field with the Indians going all out for a kill.

Be more careful against makeshift bowlers. Laxman’s wicket of Sami had almost endangered Pakistan in Kolkatta. Yuvraj is capable of doing the same here.

Pakistan are almost exactly in the same position going into the last two days as at Kolkatta. Indian bowling does not hold much threat. But pitch does.

Will he, or Won't he...But Younis certainly deserves better treatment from PCB

Younis never wanted to be a lame duck captain. So refused captaincy before. At Kolkatta, circumstances forced him to become one even as a partially fit Shoaib Akhtar was thrust on him.

Now, after a superb rearguard action at Kolkatta by Pak, with a brilliant century by the stand in skipper being the Jewel in the Crown, if Younis Khan wants to have his own team in this 'gallow or glory battle', then what is wrong in it.

None of the PCB office bearers is ever going to resign if Pakistan fail to win Bangalore test. Even their selectors, at best, will opt for some new faces. So what’s wrong if Younis wants to fight a battle with his own hand-picked men.

If will be a pity if he is dropped as captain in favour of someone like Misbah, who is yet to prove his credentials in all conditions notwithstanding whatever Rameez Raja says about him.

Pak media manager may claim that there is no truth in the reports that Younis does not want to lead but the signs of turmoil were already there when Younis had written about the controversial inclusion of Akhtar in Kolkatta test, even as Pakistan were battling to save the test.

Now he, or his well wishers, have used some friendly journalist to convey the message that all is not well. Well done, Younis!