COLOMBO: India coach Gary Kirsten says he is confident the team will remain focused in his absence when they take on Sri Lanka in the crucial third and final Test starting here on Friday. “I have complete faith in what (captain) Anil Kumble can do,” said Kirsten, who will be unavailable for the match.
“There is a calm focus about the team and there is humility about how we are going to go about our business. There is no arrogance in the environment.”
The series is currently tied 1-1, with Sri Lanka winning the opening Test by an innings and 239 runs in Colombo and India coming back strongly to clinch a 170-run victory in the second match in Galle. “These players are aware what they need to do and they are right on track in terms of preparations. The important thing is the awareness of the situation. They know they have an opportunity (to win the series),” said Kirsten. “Every guy is aware if he is not fully focused for the next Test it could affect the team’s performance.”
Kirsten said he had faith in the team’s ability to fight back. “We were happy with the team’s response as they lifted their performance by at least 20 percent (in Galle),” said the former South African opener.
“But the important thing is there is a real awareness about things to achieve in the next Test. And we have always believed that when this team is firing on all cylinders they can match the best in the world.”
Kirsten said it was not difficult to motivate the team after the big defeat as they took “great pride” playing for the country. “There was a tremendous hurt in the team after the loss. I think it all started with Kumble and from there it filtered down to the rest of the team. He is a fantastic leader and fighter,” he said.
“So, to motivate the team to improve their performance by 20 percent was not really difficult. The big challenge now is to see that they maintain it in the third Test since they have pulled one back.”
Kirsten was all praise for teenager paceman Ishant Sharma and opener Virender Sehwag for playing big roles in the team’s victory at Galle.
The 19-year-old paceman rattled the top order with two quick wickets before finishing with 3-20 off 15 overs as Sri Lanka were shot out for 136 chasing a 307-run target. “He is quality seamier and at the moment he stands out in the Indian line-up. I am very impressed by what he has to offer,” said the coach. “He is learning which are good areas to bowl. So, at the end of the day we tell him to bowl the natural length. And when he is bowling his natural length he is as good as anyone in the world.”
