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If India began their 48-day sojourn as the favourites, the tide has cruelly turned against them.

They have been outdone by a set of talented all-rounders, who could be classified as batsmen-bowlers, bowler-batsmen and a swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman.The wiry speedster had formed a formidable new-ball pair with Zaheer Khan, bowling out teams even on lifeless tracks. His pace and nagging accuracy would have come handy on this rock-hard wicket, which curator Phil Sotom described as "good as gold." Ishant's indisposition, however, paves the way for either Praveen Kumar or Munaf Patel to find a place in the XI tomorrow.

The team management remains hopeful that the 20-year-old seamer, who has scalped 37 wickets in 25 ODIs, will be ready for the second ODI at Wellington on March 6.India