Captain Rahul Dravid on Saturday said despite the success of some of the youngsters against England in the one-day series, the team-building process to find the ideal combination was far from over.
"The youngsters have put their hands up and performed well. The boys select themselves. Still there is a long way to go," Dravid said after India's seven-wicket win in the seventh and final one-dayer in Indore.
"It is still a young team, a team in progress. We are nowhere near the finished article."
The series win, with a 5-1 margin, was India's third since the start of the home season, interrupted only by a 2-2 tie against South Africa.
Dravid said the series performance would help in gauging the team's and the individual's prospects for the future.
"It will help us now to finalise the team for some of the important tournaments towards the end of the year," he said.
The captain praised his teammates for their performance in the one-dayers.
"To have comeback the way we did after the Mumbai Test loss, credit to the whole team for the way they fought back," he said.
Dravid also lauded debutant Robin Uthappa's effort in scoring a stroke-filled 86 off 96 balls.
"It was his first game and the team needed a good start in chasing a target of 289. I am sure he will gain the confidence to go up from here," he said.
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"Yes, we should have got 15-20 runs more. The last 10 overs were the key," he said.
Strauss fended off criticism that England did not have the back up players for important positions.
"We made some improvement. The bowlers put their hands up and came to party towards the end of the series. There is talent in the dressing room."
Speedster S Sreesanth was named man of the match for his six for 55, his first five-wicket haul, while Yuvraj Singh with three half-centuries was adjudged man of the series with a purse of Rs. one lakh.
