It used to be about Sachin versus Shoaib. Battle lines for the latest edition of the Indo-Pak rivalry, though, have been redrafted to read Pathan versus Youhana.
More than the names, what is interesting is the shifting nature of the contest where it used to be Indian batsmen versus the Pak bowlers, the results of the upcoming battle will largely be determined by how the Indian bowlers perform against the Pak batsmen.
When Pakistan go into the first Test at Mohali in less than a week, thus, they will pin their hopes on their capricious young openers and an experienced middle-order to snatch the advantage. Meanwhile India's bowling, which once was perceived as the weak link in such contests, is now emerging as its strength.
"The Indian bowlers performed very well in Pakistan last year," the team's vice captain, Rahul Dravid, told rediff.com on Wednesday. "I am not sure whether they will have a psychological advantage. But Pakistan will definitely rely more on their batsmen, because they don't have much experience in the bowling department."
The story of India's ascendancy in bowling was scripted during the team's 2003-'04 tour of Pakistan.
India won two of three Tests; in these, its bowlers took 126, 77, 72.5 and 54 overs to skittle Pakistan in the four innings. And though all frontline batsmen save VVS Laxman and Akash Chopra returned with a series average of over fifty, it was the bowling that turned the tide in India's favour.
The trio of Anil Kumble (15 wickets), Irfan Pathan (12) and Laxmipathy Balaji (12) topped the wicket-takers' list. Pakistan's best bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar, Danish Kaneria and Mohammed Sami, could bag only seven wickets each.
Dravid thus was underlining what has been common knowledge since Fredrick Spofforth scalped 14 English wickets to launch the Ashes: it is the bowlers who win you Tests.
An inability to produce match-winning bowlers has been India's undoing until recently; it explains why India has won only 81 Tests out of the 382 it has played till date.
The country has produced quality bowlers, but only rarely have their careers intersected to form a potent combination. The current crop of bowlers, thus, is an aberration match-winners all, peaking at pretty much the same time and forming what is potentially a lethal combination.
"Definitely the success of the bowlers is always crucial for the team," Dravid said. "Australia is such a successful team because they have three bowlers who average in the high twenties. Our bowlers are young and they have to start averaging at least in the low 20s. But, hopefully, we are forming a very good combination."
What the team found most heartening in Pakistan was the performance of its fast bowlers Balaji and Pathan. India, for once, was able to beat Pakistan at their own game -- pace.
Kiran More, India's chairman of selectors, says, "It's not that India hasn't depended on fast bowlers earlier. We have had match-winners like Kapil Dev, but now with the fresh crop of pace bowlers we are definitely stronger than Pakistan in the fast bowling department. They have pace and swing to disturb the best batsmen."
Even as India's stock in fast bowling has grown, Pakistan has been plagued by a steady depletion in resources. The furious fast men from across the border who in the past tormented India's best batsmen are now a memory; the current lineup lacks that sheen, that class, that fire.
The retirement of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis left a big void. Shoaib Akhtar, heir to the mantle of the two Ws, misses more matches than he plays, and Abdul Razzaq and Mohammed Sami have promised more than they have delivered.
Interestingly, India has an edge in the spin department as well. While Danish Kaneria is Pakistan's biggest hope, India holds two aces in Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.
Former all-rounder Robin Singh, though is a little cautious while reading too much into India's bowling performance on the Pakistan tour.
"They were in very good form last year. But both Balaji and Pathan are coming out of an injury," Singh said. "We'll have to see how well they can come back. Since Balaji hasn't played much domestic cricket, I'm not sure whether he'll get a chance in the playing eleven. But, definitely, if they are able to do well they'll [Balaji and Pathan] make life miserable for the Pakistanis."
Imran Khan and Akram agree that Pakistan does not have enough firepower to trouble the fancied Indian batsmen. Pakistan's recent series against Australia was a clear indication of this the team struggled to scalp 20 wickets. Thus, it was left to their batsmen to salvage some pride.
Indications are that the story of the coming series will be pretty much the same.
