Anil Kumble praised the fighting qualities shown by India during the drawn first Test with Australia.
Both skippers take positives from Bangalore draw
Captain Anil Kumble praised the fighting qualities shown by India during the drawn first Test with Australia in Bangalore.
Replying to Australia's first-innings effort of 430, India recovered from 106-4 to post a score of 360.
They then reduced the tourists to 128-5 second time around, although their eventual chase of 299 on the final day petered out into a tame stalemate.
"It's a bit disappointing," admitted Kumble.
"We could have had a chance yesterday, but overall we played fantastic cricket to come back from 100-4.
"On a pitch like this the toss is vital. Maybe if we'd won the toss it would have been different."
Leg-spinner Kumble was not worried that he failed to take a wicket during his 51 overs in the match.
"This wicket has changed over the years," he added of his home ground.
"There's not much spin on this pitch but I thought the fast bowlers bowled brilliantly."
High morale
Man-of-the-match Zaheer Khan, who took 5-91 in the first innings, was delighted with his showing, saying: "It can't get better than this. I'm really happy with the way things went in this Test.
"Our morale is high going into the second Test because to get a draw was a tremendous achievement."
Zaheer also scored 57 not out and shared an 80-run, eighth-wicket stand with Harbhajan Singh in the first innings.
"They know they can't take 20 wickets and they are on the back foot," added Khan. "They couldn't get me or Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh) out.
"So we are in with a big chance. They are under pressure we know that. So we are looking ahead at the second game."
Australia captain Ricky Ponting was impressed with the way his players adapted to the unfamiliar conditions.
"As we all saw, it was cracked up a lot but the cracks stayed. It ended up being a pretty could strip," he said.
"It was a good start. It's always difficult for us coming here and starting a Test series.
"There's room for some improvement. A couple of days to freshen up then off to Mohali."
The four-match Border-Gavaskar series continues on Friday with the second Test in Mohali.
