Indian skipper Rahul Dravid termed his decision to make a sporting declaration on the fifth day of the first Test as their only chance to force a result in the rain-hit first Test.
"We had to give them a target. We had to hope they would play positively and play for the target. We hoped to take some early wickets and then anything could have happened and that was the thought process. But after the first wicket they played sensibly and there was not much swing for us in the second innings," Dravid said in the post match press conference here on Tuesday.
"After the first day, when we were 295 for three, we were in a position to control the Test. After that it was a stop-start game and there was not enough cricket for us to force a result. Probably our only chance was to make them follow on, but that ninth wicket partnership (between Mahsrafe Mortaza and Shahadat Hossain) really hindered us from enforcing the follow-on," he added.
The Bangalorean also dismissed the notion that Bangladesh had gained a psychological edge from the game. "I don't think so. They were struggling at one stage and we were trying to set up a game at that stage. If they think they have the psychological edge, good luck to them. I am not here to win any psychological battle. It's going to start 0-0 in the next game.
"I can't think of any stage when we were doing the chasing. First day, we ended on 295 for three, and next day we went out looking for runs knowing that we have only 20 overs and that again was a strategy. I can't think of a time when we were under any sort of pressure at all," he said.
Dravid also praised the young set of fast bowlers. "They did well, played some hard cricket. Conditions were not exactly suitable for them to bowl fast. RP ran in and bowled with a lot enthusiasm. He has improved a lot than we had seen him in the past. It is matter of playing a lot of overs for guys like VRV and RP and it is critical for them," he said.
He said the timing of the series could have been better. "Ideally, the timing of the series could have been better. But schedules are cramped – over cramped if you ask me – so I don't know how we are going to fit everything in. The solution is that we have to get the scheduling right and try to get certain number of Tests and ODIs and try not to exceed that number and plan your tours well and prepare for your tours well. At the end of the day, quality is important and as an international player you want to provide quality cricket to people.
On the fitness of Anil Kumble, he said, "Kumble should be alright. It is just a fever. You know a lot of Bangladesh bowlers got affected by that in the last week. Unfortunately Anil got it during the game and it was a blow for us in these sort of conditions."

Taking gamble
“The plan really was to take a bit of a gamble, and see if we could get him to bowl. Because he was not in the game in the first innings at all, may be we could ask the umpires about it, but they were pretty clear about it, that the time lost was too much and the overs and that gets added onto the next day. Since it was the last day, we had no chance.”
Dravid also had some encouraging words for Mortaza. "Mortaza is a terrific cricketer and Bangladesh is lucky to have such a cricketer. He is a very good trier with the ball and his contribution down the order with the bat is also important for Bangladesh. He did well in the World Cup and this match especially.
“He is developing as a genuine all-rounder and there are not many around at the moment, especially fast bowing all-rounders."