Team India has got back confidence: Dravid

DHAKA: The victory over Bangladesh in the Test and one-day series have helped the team get back its rhythm and confidence after the disastrous World Cup performance, Indian skipper Rahul Dravid said on Sunday.

"The past is behind us and there's nothing we can do about it. We were here to play some good cricket, get some rhythm, form and confidence back. I thought we did that," Dravid told reporters after his side carved out a massive innings and 239-run win over Bangladesh in the second and final cricket Test to pocket the series 1-0.

"We played well in the One-dayers and the Tests. And we did it in tough conditions," he said.

Dravid praised his bowlers for sending down 95.4 overs back to back and keeping a good line and length.

"It was a great effort on part of the bowlers. We sized out the wicket really well. Having batted on it for a long time we figured out what line and length to bowl.

"We knew that the new ball was going to be critical. Getting it into the right areas was going to be very important as well. All our bowlers, especially Zaheer, did a great job," he said.

He said the youngsters in the side have grabbed the opportunity well.

"There were a couple of injuries which gave us more scope to play youngsters. They have shown promise. Now it's a question of learning, playing more, and getting opportunities. But it'll take time. We're have to have patience and persevere with them."

Dravid said openers Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Karthick have given the team confidence ahead of the England tour.

"Wasim's comeback has been good for India. He's got some big scores, some low scores. The challenge for him would be to be consistent, put a string of good scores together, which is what a good opener should do," he said.

"Dinesh I think hasn't put a foot wrong in the last three games. He shows character, attitude, hunger, desire. He's already started thinking ahead about what the challenges are going to be in England."

On whether he expected the Test to finish in three days, he said, "We didn't plan to specifically finish it in three days or four days.

"Yes we batted first and put up a big score. Yesterday, we took early wickets. So this morning when we came here we knew we could finish the match today."

Dravid said his Bangladesh counterpart Habibul Bashar's decision to field first gave the Indians a great opportunity to pile on a big score and put the hosts under pressure.

The Indian captain said his side would take some positives from the series as they gear up to face tougher challenges head.

"For us in some ways it was a lose-lose situation, wasn't it? Had we not done well, people would have said what's happening. Had we won, it's not a big deal. So it was tough in that sense.

"But we weren't focusing on that. We were just trying to get some batsmen in good form and try to see that the bowling came good. I think we've achieved that. Our heads are firmly on our shoulders."

He refused to draw comparison between former coach Greg Chappell, and Shastri, the cricket manager for the Bangladesh tour.

"It's not fair to compare coaches. Each individual is different. Greg did his job for a long time. Ravi's done it for one series. All I can say is I've enjoyed working with Ravi. He's played so much for India, watched so much as commentator."

Dravid, however, said that it would be an entirely different ball game in England.

"The conditions are going to be different. The series is going to be played a month later. You go from series to series. One month later, the conditions, opponents will be different," he said.

He also lavished encomiums on debutant pacer Ishant Sharma saying the Delhi youngster was impressive.

"For a young kid with not many first-class games under his belt, he has shown he's got the right attitude and has got the tools of the trade."

He also had some good words for the other pacers.

"There's a good crop of young bowlers. RP Singh was a revelation on this tour. It enlarges our pool of fast bowlers and gives us an opportunity to try and keep most of them fit.

"In the season ahead we need all of them to be fit so that even if someone is injured the team is not affected that much."

Dravid was also impressed with offie Ramesh Powar. "The wicket was slow. It had slow spin on it. But he used his flight well. He'll improve with more experience."