India is in big trouble. Day three belonged to Pakistan and the home team is now within striking distance of squaring the series.

India had a chance to come back into the match when Inzamam and Yohanna fell early, but the gifted Asim Kamal rose to the occasion. He was well supported by Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul who played gritty knocks. It was a fabulous effort by the tail, and then the pacemen came out and broke the back of India’s batting. The Pakistani bowlers were incisive and aggressive, and Inzamam and Miandad must take the credit for the transformation of the home team, from one that was going through the motions, into one that is hungry for victory. Sehwag batted well, but the others just caved in.

The way the Indians batted in the first innings, it was as if they expected to win the series 3-0. They seemed to have forgotten that the series was not yet over. I suppose it is a common phenomenon for people in our part of the world to take things easy when they are on top, and the Indians did just that. Cricket is a funny game, and the job is never finished until it is finished.

Most of the Indian cricketers will vehemently disagree with me on this, but I think India made a mistake by electing to bat after winning the toss. If there was something in the wicket for the bowlers, as indeed was the case, then they should have been given the opportunity to exploit the track. Instead, the Indians thought that their strong batting lineup to take them through, and paid a very heavy price. There is no doubt that the Indian batting is one of the best in the world, but all it takes in cricket is one good ball to dismiss a batsman. The Pakistanis have bowled several such deliveries in both innings.

I cannot help but feel that the Indian dressing-room is not what it was at the end of the one-day series. There seems to be some discontentment. Whether it is because of the declaration at Multan or the decision to bat first at Lahore, I don’t know, but something is wrong and the Indians need to pull up their socks before it is too late.

Pakistan have come back into the series, and you can be certain that they will be even more aggressive and fiery in the third Test at Rawalpindi.