India’s coach-in-waiting Gary Kirsten praised skipper Anil Kumble for leading by example in the ongoing series against Australia and said he would try to help the players focus on cricket after a tumultuous week in the aftermath of the Sydney Test.

The former South African batsman has joined the Indian team as consultant and said the players will have to “believe” that they can still fight back, win the two Tests and level the series. “I have tremendous respect for Kumble’s captaincy and he has certainly led by example, taking plenty of wickets.”

He said Kumble’s resilient batting to save the Test will have a positive influence on the whole team.

“Equally his performance in the last hour-and-a-half in Sydney was testament to his character as a person, where you could see he was desperate to save that game. I am sure he would have an influence on other players in the team,” Kirsten was quoted as saying in a website. “The important thing for me is to focus the Indian players back on cricket. I would certainly want the Indian players to play their brand of cricket on Australian soil. I don’t want them to play any other brand; they must play to their strengths. I am sure they are already doing that.”

Kirsten, who will formally take over the coaching reins on March 1, said India wanted to level the series in Sydney and were disappointed on losing the Test after dominating the game at various stages. “The Indians are naturally disappointed with the last game. There’s no doubt that they came over here to win a Test series. They can’t anymore. That’s why they felt that at the SCG they were back in the series after being outplayed in Melbourne.”

Though praising the batsmen for piling up a huge score in the first innings, Kirsten said the failure to survive for just two sessions on the last day will have to be looked into.

“They played well and they played like anyone knows that they can play,” he said. Kirsten also believes spirit of the game was violated in the acrimonious Sydney Test and welcomed Monday’s ‘cool-off’ session involving rival captains Anil Kumble and Ricky Ponting.

“The spirit was breached and I’m not sitting on the fence. The game doesn’t need two nations saying I was right,” Kirsten said.