Indian captain Anil Kumble today said the retirement of Inzamam-ul-Haq
has left the visiting Pakistan team vulnerable in their middle order.
"It affects the team when somebody of such stature retires from international
cricket. But at the same time I'll say that they are a good team," Kumble
said at the customary media conference on the eve of the second Test at the Eden
Gardens.
Despite the six-wicket win in Delhi, the skipper said the team needed
to be on the guard as the match was tighter than it seemed at the end.
"The first Test at Ferozeshah Kotla was close.
And had we not picked up five early wickets on the fourth day, the match would
have been closer," Kumble said.
The team wanted to carry the momentum from Kotla and ensure
that "we really turn the screws earlier on," he said.
"We probably missed out in the first innings in Kotla
by letting them off the hook. I hope now whenever we get the opporutnity to
turn the screw on we will be able to do it." "I want to ensure that
we get a 2-0 lead here and seal the series. That's the way I look at the Eden
Test," he said.
Kumble said the visiting team held few surprises for the Indians.
"We're aware of their strengths and weaknesses. We would like to ensure
that we utilise our strengths to the full. If we can stick to that, we would
like to concentrate and build on our strengths," he said.
Pointing out that India had not won a home Test series
against Pakistan since 1979-80, Kumble said "We now have a great opporutnity
to do that.
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