‘Before we came over, they were expected to win 4-0. The pressure is still firmly on them being 1-1 going into this decider’
Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood feels that India are under pressure going into the fourth and final Test beginning on Saturday even as he expects a result-oriented pitch in Dharamsala.
"I think the wicket will determine a result. They need to win so the wicket they serve up will bring a result into the game. The pressure is firmly on them. We can draw it but we obviously want to win it, win 2-1 and win a series in India, which rarely happens," Hazlewood said.
"Before we came over, they were expected to win 4-0. The pressure is still firmly on them being 1-1 going into this decider and all the pressure is on them. I think the whole Indian team has (felt pressure), and probably the skipper more so. There's a little bit more pressure on him. It's just that they are expected to win in their own backyard, just as we are at home. So the more pressure we can put on the better."
Talking about the likely nature of the pitch at the HPCA Stadium, he said, "I'd love to see it fast and bouncy. But that's what they said in Pune as well and we did not quite get that. I think the way they saw Pat Cummins bowl the other day, they don't really want it any faster than Ranchi, I wouldn't think. We'd love it to be that way, would feel a bit more like home, but I don't think we'll get that."
On the physical toll of spending more than two complete days in the field in the last match, Hazlewood said, "You're probably going to bowl that many overs in a Test match, it's just the fact we did it one go.
"It was a long time out in the field but that's what you prepare for and that's what a Test match brings. Everyone has pulled up well and ready to go again. I might roll the arm over lightly just to see how it goes. We've bowled enough so far this series and we've been playing non-stop for a long time now so we know what we're doing bowling-wise it's just a matter of recovering and preparing for the next Test as best we can.
"It's pretty exciting. We had that win in Pune, feels quite a while ago now, but we've competed for every day of Test cricket so far. We're pretty excited that if we can put a couple of good days together here in Dharamsala against a great opposition that we can come away with a win which is something you'd never forget."
