With their hands firm on the opposition's throat, a rejuvenated Team India would be keen to wrap up the series in the fourth one-day international in Multan on Thursday to avenge the loss in the Test series.

Pakistan, would be aiming to turn the tide and keep their hopes afloat. Down 2-1, Pakistan find themselves on the ropes as they go into the crucial fourth match, a do-or-die game for them. Meanwhile, back to back wins at Rawalpindi and Lahore [Images] have breathed fresh life into the Indian team and they would be keen not to leave the task for Karachi.

Everything seems to have fallen apart for Pakistan since they won the first game of the five-match series in Peshawar. Their top order has struggled in Pindi and Lahore while the bowlers have been smashed all over the park. More importantly, the injuries to Shoaib Akhtar [Images] and Shahid Afridi [Images] -- both of whom are out of the series -- has dealt a big blow.

In contrast, India has gone from strength to strength, ever since Irfan Pathan [Images] turned the tide around for his team with an excellent opening spell in Pindi and followed it up with another fine performance in Lahore.

On their part, the Indian batsmen have flexed their muscles like never before, striking form together, to make light work of their run chases in the last two games.

At the moment, Pakistan is a team in complete disarray while the Indians are gelling well as a team and enjoying some of their best moments of the tour so far.

Yet, discounting Pakistan's chances would be foolish. In fact, Pakistan are known to be most dangerous when they are seemingly down and out.

In fact, as their skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq [Images], pointed out, they have the ability to bounce back, something which they have done on numerous occasions in the past.

Accordingly, India will do well to remember that, in the last series at home, Pakistan came back from the dead after losing the first two games to win the next four games on a trot to wrest the series 4-2.

Then again, in both India and West Indies [Images], they levelled the Test series after having lost a Test. And in their recent one-day series against England [Images] they rebounded to their best form after losing the opener.

Multan, incidentally, is Inzamam-ul-Haq hometown and he knows the ground as the back of his hand. Hopefully, the familiar environs of his home ground, and the support of his friends and well wishers here, he will inspire his team to greater deeds. The Pakistan captain is under fire from the critics here and he is both determined and confident to prove a point to all and sundry.

With the expected runs not coming from the top order, Inzamam said that they will change his batting order so that seasoned campaigners take charge of the responsibility.

"We plan to send Shoaib Malik [Images] at number three, Mohammad Yousuf [Images] at four, myself at five and Younis Khan at six," said Inzamam although he has been known to change his game plan at the last minute.

With Shahid Afridi out of the equation, the chances are that Pakistan will include Imran Farhat [Images] in their starting line-up and have a bowler as the Supersub in order to have the right balance.

Inzamam has also stressed on the need for his fielders to pull up their socks.

"In Lahore, our fielding was so pathetic that the players couldn't even block straight fours on eight occasions. If we are unable to improve our fielding, then I'm afraid, we won't be able to win the series," he said.

Much like Pakistan, India too have a lot of work in the field, if they are to keep the momentum going. Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik were offered chances when regulation catches were put down in the slips.

Indian captain Rahul Dravid [Images] has acknowledged the fact that catching has to be top notch to restrict the strong Pakistan batting.

With Pathan leading the way, India has done well to restrict Pakistan with just four regular bowlers. More importantly, they have been picking up wickets regularly not allowing too many partnerships to flower.

Yet, it is the collective form of the Indian batsmen that has scripted the last two wins. In Pindi, Sachin Tendulkar [Images] and Virender Sehwag [Images] put on a century stand for the first wicket before Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh [Images] scored fine half-centuries to ensure victory. In Lahore, India's batting rose to the occasion with powerful performances by Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images].

With Sehwag out of the series, Tendulkar's form at the top of the order has become crucial to India's chances. And to his credit, the little master has guided the innings wonderfully well by pacing his innings to a nicety. His scores of 100, 42 and 95 underline his class and form. Besides, his experience, as always, is invaluable.

Yuvraj has been the story of the tour in which he has graduated to another level. The left-hander has showed that he has a wise head on his young shoulders and that he is ready to shoulder responsibility.

On his part, Dhoni keeps coming up with some breathtaking knocks that draws praises even from the opposition. In recent months he has grown in stature as a hard-hitting batsman, one who holds the key to India's fortunes in the lower middle order.

With Pakistan determined to make amends for losing their way in the previous two games, the Indians will have to be on their toes to guard against overconfidence and complacency.

(UNI)