We've to remain positive: Gambhir

After a disastrous day for India, opener Gautam Gambhir hoped on Sunday that the hosts would be able to add a few more runs on the board on the morrow to put pressure on England in the fourth innings. Excerpts:

On England’s effort and way forward for India: They are a quality side. We know that. They have quality bowlers as well. We played just one bad session. Maybe Kevin Pietersen and Cook’s partnership took the game away. If you see the rest, they haven’t contributed in a big way. We didn’t have a good session either. Maybe if we had 170-180 runs to play with, the game would have been on.

On England spinners: I personally felt that they bowled a little quicker in the air. If you have bite in the wicket, and if you bowl quicker in the air, some balls spin, some balls will keep straight. It’s important to know what speed you need to bowl on wickets that have turn and bounce. Monty (Panesar) and (Graeme) Swann bowled at the ideal speed, which troubled us.

On India’s aim on the fourth day: We have to be positive. If I can build a partnership with Harbhajan on the morrow, and take the target for them to 100-120, then the game is on. When I made my Test debut here, we had defended 100-plus target against Australia quite successfully. So, everything is possible. Miracles have happened in the past.

On his form and pressure after not getting big runs: There’s always pressure when you play for India. I have played enough pressure games. Form is something that is individual. Someone is happy with the way he is batting, that’s what form is all about. Maybe the rest of the people decide form on the basis of how many runs you put on the board.

On the Wankhede pitch: It’s a very good Test wicket. It’s no fun playing where one team scores 500 and the other 600. Results will bring crowds to cricket. When something is happening each and every delivery that is what will revive Test cricket in India. I have always felt that playing on these tracks is good fun. A Test is not like one-day cricket or T20 where you can go out and smash every ball. Every Test run on this kind of track is special, and that’s what you play Test cricket for.