Much of the credit for India's famous victory over England in the second Test at Trent Bridge went to star performer Zaheer Khan and the rest of the team. But there were a couple of others who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Like bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh.
Since taking over their respective roles from the tour of Bangladesh earlier this year, there's certainly an overall improvement in both departments.
While Prasad has helped the new crop of young bowlers adjust to the demands of international cricket, Singh is dedicatedly striving towards improving the fielding standard, particularly catching.
"We have been concentrating a lot on our catching in the Test matches. Most of the wickets are being taken by the medium pacers, so we are working a lot on our catching.
"It is not easy to work with the players during a Test match, because you want your players to be fresh for the match. I think what is important is that we have held all our catches and that is important than the ground fielding I believe," Singh said in Leicester on Thursday.
"The overall fielding has improved and will continue to improve. As you know, most of the guys are on the older side, but if you have a younger side you will probably see a better fielding unit," he added.
Prasad stressed on how the bowlers are sticking to plans and bowling a good line and length, something the Karnataka pacer was successful at during his time in international cricket.
"It is very satisfying, as far as I am concerned, in terms of the bowlers sticking to the lengths what we have been talking about and being disciplined throughout the series so far. It's been wonderful and that is why we got that result [at Trent Bridge]. We did bat well in the first innings, but the bowlers did a great job," he said.
It is time, he said, S Sreesanth starts focusing on his bowling and not drift away in the game by trying to unsettle the batsmen.
"That is one area which is of concern. I have been talking to him as a bowling coach one on one. I have been spending quite a bit of time with him. But he is young and he will learn.
"Well, it is not exactly struggling; I would it say it a [bad] phase, probably. We have seen him bowl well; we have seen him win a couple of matches in South Africa. It is a bit of concern, but I would not go too deep into it because he has got all the talent to succeed at this level.
"He has a fantastic body language, his aggression is great. We have been talking about his aggression too and told him not to cross the line. The approach to the crease is fantastic, the seam position is great. He has got everything in him. But we need to respect the game, respect the rules.
"As a bowling coach, I would not advise anyone to cross that line," he added.
Prasad clarified that the high beamer Sreesanth bowled to Kevin Pietersen during the second Test was accidental.
"I am sure that the full toss did slip out of his hands and he did apologise right there. Probably the no-ball he could not get the right jump and he landed quite a way ahead. So I would not go deep into that," he said.
In a brief chat with rediff.com at the end of the second Test, Singh had mentioned they are working on practicing slip catches with a hard, new ball.
"We are spending a lot of time on slip catches. In fact, I am making them practice with a brand new ball as it hits you hard on the hand and that is necessary. Slip catching is something we are working a lot on and the results are showing," he had said.
He explained how the team is looking to have the right fielders in the right positions.
"We are also planning well in terms of fielding. Someone like VVS Laxman raised his hand up and was ready to stand at short leg since we knew Wasim Jaffer was not comfortable at that position.
"Our practice sessions are quite innovative; we try to do what the players don't like the most.
"That's why when I bowl I go hard at them. I think I must have bowled around a 1000 deliveries in the last four days [at Trent Bridge]," he added.
He stressed that all Indian players are good fielders, but the bowlers tend to lose focus a bit.
"All our players are good fielders; it is just that they lose focus, so you need to remind them to be focused all the time. Our bowlers, especially after an over or so, will just get a bit relaxed and that is where I remind them to stay focused all the time," he said.
Singh said Mahendra Singh Dhoni's patchy form behind the stumps is not a cause of worry.
"It takes time. I have spoken to Alec Stewart [former England 'keeper] and most of the wicketkeepers here. Even somebody like Andy Flower gave his gloves up in such sort of a scenario. The fact that he [Dhoni] has not lost his confidence and held all his catches, I think, we should not dwell on the negatives. Indian cricket is going forward and it is important even from the press point of view that you also support the team," he said.
Prasad also informed how he tries to spend more time with the bowlers to understand them better.
"We worked on a few tactical aspects, like the lengths to bowl on and field placements. Not much of technical aspect as much but spending a lot of time with the individual one-on-one and working with them in the nets.
"They were really very disciplined in their bowling, that is what is important for success," he had said after the second Test.
"Whatever I have seen of R P Singh, he is a fantastic bowler, coming up. Along with Zaheer and Sreesanth they make a terrific bowling combination. I think they are talented bowlers but they needed someone who could understand them, show the direction. That is what I have been doing. I have been trying to understand them better and looking to get deep into their mindset. The conditions here are helping swing bowlers, but, importantly, they are looking to pitch the ball up," Prasad added.
