After failing to translate a definite advantage into victory in the series opener, India go into the second cricket Test, beginning in Kolkata on Wednesday, looking for that elusive extra push to put it across arch-rivals Pakistan, who appear more confident after coming back from the brink at Mohali.
The disappointment of not being able to polish off the Pakistan lower order in quick time on the final day of the Test despite being in the driver's seat all through the first four days must be rankling India skipper Sourav Ganguly, although he claimed that the visitors would not gain any psychological edge despite their match-saving fightback.
Ganguly would also be worried about the weather forecast for the next few days. The met office prediction of inclement skies over the next few days has cast a shadow over the match.
The probability of northwesters, so common in the city during this time of the year, and the development of a trough of low pressure in the vicinity, have resulted in the met office warning of rains, thereby making the organisers a worried lot.
But what seems to be occupying the Indian team management's mind is the bowling combination, with coach John Wright already indicating that the side would revert to a two pacers, two spinners formula by re-inducting offie Harbhajan Singh in the first eleven.
Harbhajan was kept out of the final team at Mohali, when the Indian selectors included three pacers, with leg spinner Anil Kumble carrying the entire load of slow bowling.
As the Eden wicket traditionally offers assistance to spinners at a later stage, the Indian think-tank seems to be taking into account Harbhajan's fabulous strike rate at the Eden Gardens, which includes a hat-trick against Steve Waugh's world beating Australians in 2001.
With Wright virtually ruling out a five-pronged bowling attack on Monday, it could be a toss-up between medium pacers Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan, with Lakshmipathy Balaji sitting pretty following his nine-wicket haul in the first Test.
There is no such problem with the hosts' star-studded batting line-up, with most of the big guns being among runs.
The dashing Virender Sehwag tore the Pakistani attack, particularly the pacers, to shreds in Mohali with his aggressive blade, and the spectators at the Eden would be hoping for yet another awe-inspiring show from the Najafgarh man.
It might also turn out to be a momentous occasion for batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, who is just a century away from breaking Sunil Gavaskar's world record of 34 Test hundreds.
Tendulkar missed the three-figure mark by only six runs at Mohali, and must be impatient to reach the landmark soon.
Eden Gardens could be the perfect backdrop for the little master to create history as it was here six years ago that a run-out decision against him triggered crowd violence on the last two days during an Indo-Pak Test.
The match could be completed only before empty stands - with Pakistan winning by 46 runs - after the police baton charged the spectators out of the stadium.
That was Pakistan's last Test on this ground, where all other Tests between the two neighbours ended in draws.
Pakistan, however, returned to Kolkata last November to play the BCCI Platinum Jubilee one-dayer and again emerged triumphant.
The visitors, despite having their tails up after the commendable final day showing in Mohali have problems afflicting both their batting and bowling departments.
The top order has failed to fire, with opener Salman Butt and vice-captain Younis Khan falling short of double figures in both the innings.
Coach Bob Woolmer, despite ruling out any drastic changes conceded that there would be strategic adjustments. With manager Salim Altaf contending that Younis was under pressure to retain his place, the names of all-rounders Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik are doing the rounds as possible replacements.
On the positive side, skipper Inzamam-ul Haq has already struck form, scoring half centuries in both the innings at Mohali, while Asim Kamal and Yousuf Youhana have also come up with good performances.
But it is the heroic showing of young wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal, who led Pakistan out of the woods with his maiden Test hundred, that has warmed hearts in the Pakistan camp.
The savage assault launched by Sehwag at Mohali made the Pakistani attack look very ordinary, with all the bowlers - except leggie Danish Kaneria - proving expensive.
Woolmer has hinted that Pakistan may have to opt for five specialist bowlers given the sultry weather conditions in Kolkata and the absence of able stop-gap bowlers.
Off-spinner Arshad Khan, who last turned out for Pakistan more than four years back, appears to be a hot contender for a place in the team, with Sami's dismal performance coming under the scanner.
Arshad's inclusion will also give the much-needed support to Kaneria, whose performance in the first Test has been praised by all.
After the clobbering at Mohali, all-rounder Abdul Razzak needs to pull up his socks, and the uncharacteristic gritty knock in the second innings could inspire him to come up with a much-improved bowling performance.
The toss could again be vital as the Eden wicket has traditionally assisted spinners in the last couple of days, making it advantageous for the team batting first.
However, with the morning juice on the track giving good amount of movement to the pacers, the first hour's play on all five days might also be crucial.
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