3rd Test: It's time for India's redemption

Birmingham: It is the proverbial moment of truth for India. In their 18-month reign at the top of the Test cricket, the team has encountered many a crunch moment but none bigger than this one.

The third Test against England, starting here on Wednesday, puts everything ' series, ranking, reputation and, of course, pride ' at stake. It is the biggest test yet (pun intended) for Mahendra Singh Dhoni and for the collective character of his men.

A 0-2 deficit in a four-match Test series is not a situation of adversity but hopelessness. Trying to overtake England at this stage could be like chasing Sebastian Vettel in an HRT car. The odds, no wonder, are heavily stacked against an Indian win in the third Test and the series overall. In England, they have already started celebrating their rise to the top. Andrew Strauss's men are being hailed as the best Test team ever.

Dhoni agreed that it has been the toughest tour for his side. 'If you consider injuries, fitness, form ' everything, there are quite a few things to worry about. It's difficult to recall (any other) but it's among the most difficult tour (I've been involved in).'

But this adversity is nothing new for Dhoni's men. They bounced back in South Africa when the chips were down. After losing in the first Test at Centurion, they came back to win the match in Durban to level the series. There are, in fact, cold similarities between Durban 2010 and Birmingham 2011. It is just that the task, this time, is two times more difficult. India, sure, will have to raise the roof.

The team's journey so far has been in reverse gear so far and they will have to change the gears fast to catch up with the high-flying England. They got the much-needed boost when Virender Sehwag joined the squad.

The opener has the ability to drive the team in the 10th gear but the problems for India are more in bowling than in batting. Without Zaheer Khan, the Indian bowling has looked like a listless club attack. Even S Sreesanth, for all his aggression, has done little to protect his reputation.

The conditions in Edgbaston could inspire the team to surprise the hosts. The thin grass layer on the wicket could provide the much-needed elixir for the bowlers. Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar besides Sreesanth may relish the conditions as much as much as the home team bowlers.

Indian batting has not exactly fired in the series so far. Rahul Dravid stood tall like the Wall he is known to be but he has had little support from his colleagues. It is time Sachin Tendulkar joined forces with the likes of Dravid and VVS Laxman. He would do the team immense service if he could achieve the much-awaited 100th century here.

But a lot could depend on Sehwag and the start he provides. 'He is a dynamic player, he backs his instincts to play shots, irrespective of what bowler he is facing. He looks at the ball, gives it the treatment it deserves. He is an aggressive opener, who has a big impact on opposition bowlers. He is a very good batsman to have in the side,' the India skipper said.