The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : `Focus is on the future'

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Sunday, May 13, 2007
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Sport - Cricket

`Focus is on the future'

Special Correspondent

DHAKA : Rahul Dravid wanted to forget the past and look ahead as India wrapped up the one-day series against Bangladesh here on Saturday. "We can't do anything about the past. The only thing we can do is play some good cricket here and in the future and that is what we are focusing on,'' he said in the post match conference.

Dravid said, "the top order had to be a bit aggressive and take a few chances. In conditions like this and against this attack one of the things we have discussed is being positive upfront and taking a few chances. We have seen here once the ball gets a bit older it gets lower and slower. Their spinners come into play and run making is not that easy.

"If someone gets an opportunity and puts up a score like Gautam did and wins the game for your side by batting through in tough conditions, it gives the selectors a lot of confidence and hope.''

Gambhir delighted

Gautam Gambhir was delighted at having contributed in a victory. "It feels good (to get a century). I was getting starts and it was important to carry on from those starts. I thought it was the right time because we were 1-0 up and to seal the series was very important.

"Being on the winning side and getting a hundred always feels great. When I got my first hundred we were on the losing side (against Sri Lanka in 2005). But today it feels great that we won the series.''

Coach Ravi Shastri was aggressive in his comments. "We have come here to show no mercy because we take no prisoners. We want to finish it 3-0.

If Bangladesh is expecting us to go soft in the last game at Chittagong, they have another one coming. They did well in the first game and that was their best chance of beating us.

"But there is no doubt that they are a vastly improved team. I have followed Bangladesh cricket more than anyone else in the last eight years and what I am really happy is to see the improvement they have made in the last six to seven years. They are a much more confident side now and a lot of youngsters they have invested in are finally coming to the fore.''

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