India primed to end mammoth wait

It's hard to believe it, but it is more than 27 years since India last beat Pakistan in a Test series at home. The two countries have actually not played each other that often as they remain not the friendliest of neighbours, but with the conclusion of the one-day series, the real stuff takes over with a three-Test series, beginning in Delhi on Thursday.

Despite the fact that it's a generation since Sunil Gavaskar and co scored a series win over their fierce rivals on home soil, India should go into the series with increased confidence after a solid one-day series win.

Moreover, they appear to be finding the keys to long-term consistency - the odd outstanding performance, combined with all-round consistency and a nice balance of youth and experience, pace and attack.

Bet365 make India 4/7 (1.56) favourites to come out on top in the series, while Pakistan are 4/1 and the draw is 11/4.

In the correct score markets, a 2-0 win for India is the slight favourite at 10/3, just ahead of a 1-0 win, at 7/2 and a 1-1 draw, at 4/1. It's 15/2 that they win it 2-1, and just 6/1 that they sweep the series.

If you fancy Pakistan to win, you can 10/1 on a 1-0 win, 201 on a 2-0 win, 18/1 that it ends 2/1 and a whopping 66/1 that they complete the whitewash.

The series will also see the debut of Anil Kumble as India captain and it will be interesting to see how he performs. The inclusion of Habhajan Singh and Murali Kartik should take some of the workload off his shoulders, though whether two, or even all three will play in the same side is still a matter for debate.

With Sachin Tendulkar looking close to his best, Yuvraj Singha real star and Rahul Dravid to come back in, alongside fellow stalwarts Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, India's batting looks strong. Their bowling, too, has promise, with Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth and RP Singh offering good pace options alongside the spinners.

Pakistan, by contrast, will have to rely on the likes of Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan heavily for runs, particularly after the retirement of Inzamam-ul-Haq, whose contribution to his country's performances over the last decade should not be underestimated.

They look a little light on the batting side, while injury-doubts around Shoaib Aktar will not help captain Shoaib Malik sleep well at night. Mohammad Sami is back, while Danesh Kaneria will come back into the side after missing the one-dayers.

Kaneria, who is still just 26, averages more than four wickets a game, which is good for a spinner, and will be a threat to India's dominance.

Drawn Tests are no stranger to India-Pakistan contests. Of the 30 games to have been played between the two in India, the home side has won six, Pakistan five and 19 have ended in a stalemate.

India have won four and lost just two of their past 10 Tests, while at home, they have won five and lost just two of their past 10, and won eight and lost just four of their past 20. Pakistan have won three and lost five of their past 10 away Tests, and over 20 it's worse, with just five wins and 11 defeats.

Pakistan may have had the slight edge in terms of series won between the two, but I think this series is going to come down to experience, and on that score, they have a big advantage. There ought to be a lot of runs scored and there may not be too much in it, but I'd be surprised if India don't win the series, perhaps by the odd game.