India keen to continue their good work after Aus tour

R Eswar

Chennai, Mar 25 (PTI) India will look to get back into the Test mode quickly as they square up against South Africa in the first of their three-match cricket series in the backdrop of the euphoria of the one-day tri-series triumph in Australia.

Although South Africa is regarded as a tough team, India's record on home turf clearly makes the hosts favourites provided the weather holds good for all the five days.

With the unseasonal depression in the Bay of Bengal persisting, the sun has been playing hide and seek. Light showers lashed the city yesterday, forcing the ground staff to give up their preparations and cover the pitch.

But the two teams are hardly worried about the weather as Indian skipper Anil Kumble made his intentions clear, saying his team would be keen to snatch a series win.

"It will be the first step to ensure that we keep the good work done in Australia. This is the beginning of a long season of Test Cricket," Kumble said.

"We are all geared up, we have to go out there and ensure we do our best. We did that throughout in Australia. We are really confident." Kumble indicated India would go into the match with seven batsmen and four bowlers.

"Playing eleven is not decided, but as of now we are looking at two (medium pacers) and two (spinners). We have Sourav (Ganguly), (Virender) Sehwag and Sachin (Tendulkar) who can fill in as bowlers. We will see. There is no injury issues to any of our players in the team," the leg-spinner said.

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