It's been just 18 days since India crashed to their second-heaviest defeat in history but they have returned to Karachi in a far more upbeat mood. The one-day series has been wrapped up and a general relaxed air was palpable.
India's last one-dayer at the National Stadium, which they won, was a mind-blowing contest. An almost unreal 693 runs were clattered in the game with tension gripping the entire ground and it produced an almost-perfect start to a much-awaited series. This now is a dead rubber, the first between the two sides for nearly six years, and Rahul Dravid admitted India would be keen on testing a few youngsters in different positions.
"We will try out a few youngsters and try and give them a few new challenges," he said, hinting that the likes of Suresh Raina and Ramesh Powar might have a role to play. "We would like to win every game and this one is no different. Raina played superbly in the last game and showed what a phenomenal player he can be and it's important to give youngsters different challenges. The only way you can get the best out of players is by giving them chances under pressure. No point in being soft on them or cocooning them. It doesn't get the best out of them."
Pakistan's last game here saw them rattle up 356 while batting first and one can expect a run-fest for tomorrow's game as well. India will be keen that Mohammad Kaif and Gautam Gambhir find their groove and help them end the series on a high. Murali Kartik hasn't got a game since the opening clash at Peshawar and he, along with Powar, might make up the spin-attack tomorrow.
India's power-packed batting and tight bowling might have sealed the series but one mustn't under-estimate the influence that Dravid's captaincy has had throughout. Right from Peshawar, he has set innovative, aggressive fields and Pakistan's top-order collapses have had as much to do with their sloppiness as they have with Dravid's strangling tactics. "I've enjoyed the challenge," he continued, "it's the first time overseas and it's been a great experience. You have good days and you have bad days and I've learnt that you can't do everything on your own."
The series began with most of the talk centering on the pitches, with pancake-type surfaces being prepared for the first two Tests, but Dravid felt that things had changed since. "We're happy with the wickets for the one-dayers," he added, "and our bowlers have been able to land the ball in the right areas. To restrict Pakistan to 265, 288 and 161 in the last three games was a good effort. I think the groundsmen have done a great job."
India started this series as second favourites, but like against Sri Lanka and South Africa, showed how dangerous they can be just when the knives are being sharpened. A triumphant finale in Karachi would be the icing at the end of a long tour and make the journey back home that much smoother.