You didn't need Robin Uthappa's admission to come to the conclusion that India's batsmen have had a pretty poor time of it in the one-day series against Australia.
What Uthappa did reveal, however, was that the batsmen were hurting at having let the side down.
"We have let the team down," the Bangalorean said on Sunday afternoon, after India's practice session at the Sector 16 stadium. "The batters have put their hands up and said we will make amends. It's not pressure, but taking more responsibility."
Asked if the quality of the Australian bowling hadn't made it difficult for India to get off to good starts, Uthappa replied, "It's not that we have not got off to good starts. It's just that we have kept losing wickets, and that has pegged us back." For the record, the three opening stands between Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir have been 0, 11 and 10. Good starts? Think again.
Admitting that the Twenty20 World Cup had taken a lot out of the team, Uthappa continued, "We have had two tough games. We were all a bit knackered, tired and fatigued after the Twenty20. We got very little time to recover.
“There wasn't much time after the Twenty20 to switch gears. To immediately change in 2-3 days was not an easy task, we were a bit pressed in terms of planning and preparation. But we have worked on it. We are looking up now, and the body language has been very positive in the dressing room. Chandigarh has always been a good hunting ground for us, and we should have a good game here."
Uthappa disagreed with a suggestion that, man for man, Australia appeared the stronger side. "Due credit has to be given to them. They have adapted well to the conditions. But I won't say that man for man, they are a better side. When you look at it on paper, we seem to be a better side, we seem to be a lot more skilled."
Uthappa denied there was any friction between seniors and juniors, after chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar warned that newcomers could replace the established order unless they quickly regained their form. “Absolutely not,” he stated emphatically. “It is only media talk. The team is enjoying itself, it is amazing to be part of the team.”
The right-hander confirmed that Gautam Gambhir, who slipped while batting and strained his groin, had gone for an MRI. And while he said he wasn't MS Dhoni when asked what the team would do on winning the toss, he was happy to hazard a guess on the composition.
Murali Kartik's presence in the squad prompted the question if two spinners would play. "I think so, I think both of them (Harbhajan Singh being the other) will be in the eleven," Uthappa offered.
