"We controlled the first half of the game well," said stand-in skipper Rahul Dravid, after India caved in to Australia in the TVS tri-series final in front of 100,000 supporters at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday night.
Dravid must have realized that it is no good dominating Australia in periods or for a couple of hours, but important to keep the pressure on them right through.
Coach John Buchanan told rediff.com that though Australia might lose the odd game, the team's consistency would see them win 90 per cent of the time.
"We have raised our game to a level where we will win more than lose matches," he said.
It was another defeat against the Aussies and another mental scar. Losing in our own backyard will definitely be a jolt to the team, which sets sail for Australia in three days for a four-Test series.
Suggesting what India needs to do right to win, Dravid, in a lighter vein, said, " We must bat well, field well and bowl well."
A visibly disappointed Dravid, who was dismissed for 49 at a crucial stage in the match, accepted the onus of defeat, saying the batters should have got to the Aussie total of 235.
"It was a huge challenge playing them, and like any other country we were also under pressure against them. Our plan worked out well at the start and I still think that six batsmen were good enough," he said.
He insisted that there is nothing wrong with the team. "Taking this defeat in our stride we must work hard and look to play well in Australia," he said.
"We need to lift our game against the Aussies by 25 per cent in all departments. We are a young team and we will get better."
Saying Sourav Ganguly's inclusion in the eleven would have been a definite plus, he argued that despite losing the toss the team did well to restrict Australia to 235.
He admitted that Australia will be a tough tour but a great chance for the team to travel there as underdogs and make a name.
