INDIA ARE ONLY 50-50 AT BENGALURU

Of the 21 Tests India have played at the venue, their win-loss record is six-all, with the remaining nine matches drawn. The hosts will have to keep their nerve to ensure the result goes their way. Here’s why they have to be wary of history:

1974 LOST TO WEST INDIES BY 267 RUNS

India lost the very first Test played at the venue, against Clive Lloyd’s mighty Caribbean side in 1974. Lloyd, Gordon Greenidge and Alvin Kallicharan struck centuries before the Andy Roberts-led pace attack prevailed over India’s spin attack of Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, S Venkataraghavan and Erapalli Prasanna. It is India’s heaviest defeat by runs at Chinnaswamy Stadium.

1987 LOST TO PAKISTAN BY 16 RUNS

The hosts dished out an underprepared pitch. Left-arm spinner Maninder Singh took 10 wickets, leaving the hosts to get 221 for victory. Sunil Gavaskar made a classic 96, but Pakistan left-arm spinner Iqbal Qasim and off-spinner Tauseef Ahmed bowled their team to a narrow win.

1998 LOST TO AUSTRALIA BY 8 WICKETS

Sachin Tendulkar’s first innings 177 raised Indian hopes of winning the series 3-0, but Mark Waugh’s 153 not out, paceman Michael Kasprowicz’s five-for in the Indian second innings and off-spinner Gavin Robertson’s match-haul of five wickets gave Australia victory.

2000 LOST TO SOUTH AFRICA BY INNINGS AND 71 RUNS

The South African pace attack, comprising Allan Donald, Nantie Hayward and Shaun Pollock, skittled out India for 158. Mohd Azharuddin hit 102 in the second innings, but left-arm spinner Nicky Boje took 5/83 to bowl out India for 250 as South Africa won easily to complete a 2-0 series win.

2004 LOST TO AUSTRALIA BY 217 RUNS

Debutant Clarke arrived in Test cricket with a splash, scoring 151. A fit-again Glenn McGrath and Warne, who picked VVS Laxman with a beauty, had a big say in the result. The Aussies went on to win the series 2-1, their first in India for 35 years and the innings fast-tracked Clarke to the big league. Michael

2005 LOST TO PAKISTAN BY 168 RUNS

Pakistan piled on the runs in the first innings thanks to Younis Khan’s 267 and skipper Inzamam-ul Haq’s 184. Sehwag smashed 201 but a first-innings lead allowed Pakistan to set a target of 383. India were bundled out for 214, with Shahid Afridi claiming important wickets. The win resulted in the series ending 1-1.