Birmingham, Aug 9: 2-0 down in the series against England, an injury-ridden Indian team need to pull a rabbit out of their hats to win the third Test at Edgbaston starting August 10. The return of explosive opener Virender Sehwag is being looked at as a talisman even as the beleaguered side miss key bowlers Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh.

Former Indian cricketer and current commentator Ravi Shastri analysed India’s chances in the game in an exclusive interview with www.bcci.tv.

Can India be expected to take 20 wickets without Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh?

They will have to think positive because sometimes when your back is to the wall, something special can come out from somebody in the side. Someone will have to step up to the play. It’s not impossible, especially if England go for the kill and leave you a track that has a bit of juice in it; you never know.

How different are the conditions at Edgbaston in comparison to those at Trent Bridge and Lord’s?

No idea, unless you go [and] pitch it in the morning at the ground and then see the surface, you never know. History has it that this pitch has done something or the other; there has been enough help for the bowlers to keep them interested and it has produced results. So it will be interesting to see what [happens] tomorrow morning.

What would your bowling combination for the Indians look like?

It depends on the conditions but I would imagine three fast bowlers and a spinner.

Can Virender Sehwag be expected to have an impact immediately after a long injury lay-off?

Well, he is an impact player, [but] it is not going to be easy because no matter who the player, when you have a break for a long time, it takes a while to get into the groove. Viru is that kind of player who will take the attack to the opposition from the outset. That’s one of his great strengths, you know. He’s mentally tuned in that fashion and whether he has got a break or not got a break, one thing’s for sure - if the first ball is a half-volley, he’ll smack it.

Sourav Ganguly reckons India can still bounce back and draw the series 2-2. Do you share his optimism?

I think this is an important Test. It’s not beyond India; they have had their backs to the wall many times in the past but it is their batting that will have to rise to the occasion. The big boys will have to fire. They need a big score on the board in the first innings and I insist first innings because you don’t want to be chasing 250 [runs] or giving England a lead in the first innings because then it is going to be trouble. The pressure will show on the batting side, so [the] first innings is crucial.