Sending Pakistan to their first defeat at Eden Gardens, India will now, in all likelihood, field the same unchanged side for the third Test against Bangalore. Pakistan though will rethink their bowling line-up to curb the formidable Indian batting if they are to square the series.

The play in Kolkata was full of intense drama and suspense going into the fifth day's play. Pakistan's remarkable recovery in the first Test at Mohali held a few rough images in the minds of the Indians and became apparent as the Test progressed. Batting first on the fluent Kolkata pitch, Rahul Dravid chalked a majestic nineteenth Test century after Virender Sehwag's eighty-two, that propelled India to a total of 407.

Pakistan's retort came in the form of Younis Khan and Yousuf Youhana. In a terrific display of sheer command and control, the duo set about slowly but surely gnawing away at India's score. The duo thwarted and frustrated Sourav Ganguly and his men no end, to the effect that the game appeared to changing hands very quickly in very sublime but dramatic fashion.

But India fought back hard on the morning of the fourth day's play and were aptly rewarded with eight wickets while Pakistan managed only 120 runs more to concede a psychological lead of fourteen runs. India's loss of both openers for just twenty-three runs threatened to bring in further twists to a game already placing the fascinated spectators on the edge of their seats. Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar rescued the India into a position that began to pose headaches for Inzamam. Dravid appeared at home while Tendulkar built on his confidence boosting comeback in the last game with a typically controlled innings that was replete with trademark shots that spoke of the unconquerable. Steve Bucknor changed that tide with a decision that left the master batsman fuming. Abdur Razzaq's swinging delivery succeeded in fooling the umpire standing in his hundredth Test into thinking of a non-existent nick. Curtailed on fifty-two, Tendulkar left the scene but Dravid's insatiable appetite called for his second century in successive innings of the same Test. Dinesh Karthik's proved the mainstay during Dravid's knock, but when he played an audacious reverse sweep off Danesh Kaneria to move to eighty-three, Pakistani faces were the image of repressed amusement. But that was short-lived as Karthik's need to push on led to his downfall.

India ended with 407 for the second time in the match. They were almost justified in delaying the declaration till they led by 421 with the indomitable Shahid Afridi proving a complete opposite of the confidence lacking Taufiq Umar. Afridi was disdainful off any ball marginally wide of the off-stump and punished any stray ball down the leg-side. The post-tea period saw India's declaration looking more vulnerable as Afridi threatened to single-handedly run away with the match. But as has been Afridi's weakness, one hasty shot too many saw him caught at fine-leg off Kumble's bowling for fifty-nine, just seven balls before the close of play. But Pakistan seemed poised for a dramatic final day at ninety-five for one.

But this time Pakistan's resistance had to succumb to the guile and cunning of Anil Kumble, who bagged his second ten-wicket haul against Pakistan on a track that was still aiding fluent batting. Pakistan lost three wickets early, including that of Younis Khan. They never quite recovered, although they did hold out till after the tea session. With the post-lunch session yielding three more wickets, Pakistan's splendid challenge faced its inevitable end.