‘Team’s not thinking about Sachin ton’
India are still 110 runs shy of avoiding the follow on with only two days left, but Gautam Gambhir said the hosts could still try to force a victory in the final Test against the West Indies.
“We all know things change quickly in India, especially on red soil,” said the left-handed opener, who made 55, his second half-century in as many innings. “If we can put a decent total tomorrow, we can try and get the West Indies out. We still feel there is a chance of winning this Test, instead of thinking of just trying to save it.”
Gambhir said the team wasn’t as focussed on Sachin Tendulkar’s 100th international ton as the others might be. “The team members are not thinking much about Sachin’s 100th 100 at the moment, but what the team requires right now,” he offered. “The West Indies have set a very good target and it’s important to save the follow on. In that course, if Sachin gets his 100th 100, it’s good. The bigger goal is to think about the team and what we want to achieve out of this Test match, which is more important than Sachin’s 100th 100.”
There was a pat on the back for the West Indies. “They played some good cricket apart from that first Test,” said Gambhir. “They really played well in the second Test and in this Test too. They have quality players in the line-up and can upset any opposition. They have got someone like Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul bowling at 140 plus, and they have some quality batsmen. I don’t know from where it has emerged that they are an ordinary side.
I don’t think they are an ordinary side, and they have shown so on this tour till now.”
On the possibility of some members going to Australia early, he remarked, “The better you are prepared, the better you do on tours. Some of the guys went early to South Africa and prepared well, and we had a great Test series there. We have always done well in Australia. If the Board decides some players need to go early, it will be good for us.”
