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 The question now is - will it be a repeat of India's triumph over the Aussies in the 'Laxman Rekha' Test match at Kolkata or will we see Ponting's men crush India all over again as in the World Cup final in South Africa?
Will Ponting avenge the defeat suffered by Steve Waugh and his men on this same Eden Gardens ground after having subjected India to the humiliation of following on?
Come November 18, it is another battle royale between India and Australia at Kolkata, this time in a day-night fixture. For the record, it is a clash between the World Cup champions and the runner-up. Forget the record. For the Aussies, India is number two anyway. That is what the two demolition experts, Gilchrist and Hayden feel. That is what every Australian cricketer feels. Indians may feel despondent about Indian cricket from time to time. But the world champs have tremendous respect for India's talent. If they are truly scared of any team in the world today, it is India.
 Though the tough Aussies always play the mind game before any crucial match or series, for them to admit that they rank India as second best in the world and to say it during this series, means a lot. They have tremendous respect for Dravid, Laxman and Ganguly. How come Tendulkar is not in this list, you may wonder. That is because they just don't respect him. They hold him in awe. Once Tendulkar gets going, they just don't know how to bowl to him. Mind you, that is not our comment. That is the unanimous view of the never-say-die Aussie bowlers.
For those used to glaring at batsmen (they try not to sledge any more in a new PR exercise), it is strange to see them shaking their heads at Tendulkar despatching the leather to all parts of the ground and quietly walking back to the top of the bowling run. One hopes for the sake of good cricket, that the one-lakh plus crowd at Eden Gardens will get to see more of that. One envies the umpires of the match, who get the closest view to the action, although they don't have the opportunity like us to clap or cheer or watch the shot on Replay but have to carry out the mundane chore of signalling a boundary.
 The fans of Ganguly too will hope that their Dada will come good on his home ground. And what about an action replay of Laxman's innings against the Aussies here? Not to mention the new energy that Rahul Dravid reveals, in any position, in any role.
If only the Indian bowling can perform 30 per cent of what the batsmen can achieve.
The key to the match depends on which team gets off to a better start. Normally, too much should not depend on the opening pair of Tendulkar-Sehwag or Gilchrist-Hayden. But that's the way the match could end up. For the opening pairs have the ability to blow the opposition away and demoralise the bowlers. The rest of the batsmen have had an easier time once there is a whirlwind opening partnership.
That is because these days shoulders tend to drop once the ball is hit around. Few bowlers and few teams these days show the will power to bounce back from an onslaught.
Get Gilchrist early, one can hear the Indian think-tank tell its bowlers on the eve of the final. Get Tendulkar early, is what the Aussie brains trust must be telling their bowlers.
Do individuals matter so much in a team game? They shouldn't really. But Tendulkar and Gilchrist have done so much for their teams, that they do count a lot.
 At the end of it all, the 'over-zealous, highly patriotic' Indian crowd should realise it is just a game, and should cheer every shot played, whether it is by an Indian or an Aussie. Indian crowds, barring Chennai and to some extent at Mumbai, have forgotten how to appreciate good cricket, irrespective of who plays it. It is not too often that one can see the likes of an aggressive Gilchrist, Hayden or Ponting or a stylist in Damien Martyn. Much as one would like India to win, it must be remembered that ultimately cricket must win. May the better team on the day win.
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