The game is still open, says Chauhan

The Indian team manager Chetan Chauhan said that the game was still open and the Indian team would continue to be positive in their approach after two days of the first Test at the Wankhede stadium. He added that a lot depended on the three best batsmen of the team, two of whom were at the crease and the third yet to come.

Speaking to the press at the post match conference, the former Indian opening batsman added that the Australians batted well and they should be given the credit of doing well on a turning wicket. "We had Australia in a corner at 99 for five. They batted well and the two batsmen who scored centuries attacked the bowling and were successful. But he added, "We think they were also lucky. We dropped a few catches and that is why they could get that score and take the lead."

The manager said he was highly impressed with Harbhajan Singh and he thought that the offspinner could have got a few more wickets in the innings. He was of the view that the Australians would find it very difficult to score even 150 runs batting last on this wicket. At the same time, he stated confidently that the Indians would score 300 runs in the second innings.

The 53-year-old Chauhan said that Javagal Srinath had fractured his right index finger while batting in the first innings. He added that Srinath did bowl with a fractured finger at the Australians throughout the day. However, he added that the Karnataka fast bowler would bat and bowl in the second innings. On Srinath's inclusion in the second Test, he added that it was too early to say if he would be fit for that game. He said there was time before the Test and it was still to be seen if the fracture healed before that.

The other worrying factor for the Indian camp was the injury to Nayan Mongia. The wicket-keeper was sent in as a night watchman but failed to counter a short ball from Jason Gillespie that lifted sharply and struck him on his right thumb. Chauhan added that Mongia had gone for an X-ray to the hospital and no clear status of the injury could be ascertained as to the nature of his injury.

The manager mentioned that the team had chalked out plans to counter the Australian bowling attack in the second innings.