Sitting in the sophisticated new dressing room used only for international matches, the balcony view offers the excitement of walking down the ramp to the crease. It will be the first time the Delhi team will be looking at the centre-wicket from a different angle. The mindset too needs a similar tuning, just for a day, ahead of their domestic season, when they take on fancied Pakistan in a practice match at the Kotla Stadium tomorrow.
The visiting team has shown intentions of having a serious affair Friday morning -- the main side will slog it out on the plush green, the remaining to hit the adjacent nets - and the conditions here are stacked up to their needs.
The pitch is already showing a white glow beneath that tinge of green kept to bind the wicket, indicating an even bounce, and well-tapped to showcase the array of front-foot play likely to be on display.
The Pakistan team is likely to test their frontline batsmen, including the bustling Shahid Afridi for early Diwali greetings to the few thousand expected to witness.
Not that the Delhi team is intimidated, having vowed secretly to do a favour to Team India and hiking their own stock by giving a dose back and create a dent before the Pakistanis board the flight to Guwahati for the first ODI.
Gautam Gambhir, leading the Delhi side for the first time, will hold the attention as much as Aakash Chopra for varied reasons. While a good knock for the left-hand bat will further boost his confidence ahead of the ODI series, Chopra's ability in negotiating the new ball will be keenly observed for the Test series. Mitthun Manhas has been among the runs as much as the promising Virat Kohli and the Delhi batting card with Shikhar Dhawan at No 3, Rajat Bhatia and Punit Bisht looks rock-solid to test the veracity of this touring side.
It will also provide interesting space for the two sides that is pre-dominantly pace-oriented, and will test the ability of either side to land the seam of the white ball to gain some lateral movement.
Pakistan are expected to reserve one of their main pace spearheads -- Shoaib Akhtar or Umar Gul -while Delhi will go with three-pronged pace attack of Amit Bhandari, Pradeep Sangwan and Kuunal Lall, along with a specialist spinner in Chetanya Nanda.
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