Ganguly calls for batsmen to perform

Greg Chappell co-ordinates fielding practice for the Indians ahead of their match against Zimbabwe © Getty Images

Sourav Ganguly has called for more resolve and runs from his batsmen as India prepare for their second match of the Videocon Cup, against Zimbabwe on Monday (August 29). India were thrashed by New Zealand in their first game - the final margin was only 51 runs thanks to a superb ninth-wicket stand of 114 after the team had slumped to a dismal 44 for 8.

"It takes time for a team to get used to conditions, especially the bowlers. We will just have to pick ourselves up from the floor," Ganguly was quoted as saying by AFP. "There has been something wrong with our approach. In the past Indian batsmen have scored a lot of big innings but that has not been the case over the last year. But we have addressed that and we are trying to find the answers."

India were let down badly by their batsmen at Bulawayo - their top eight totalled 39, with only Virender Sehwag entering double digits, as Shane Bond decimated them in an outstanding spell of fast bowling. India will be relieved, though, that there'll be no-one anywhere near Bond's pace in their next match. New Zealand blasted the Zimbabwean attack to the tune of 397 runs in just 44 overs, and Monday's game should be a good opportunity for India's top order to get back some form and confidence.

Zimbabwe didn't have too many positives to take from their first match either, but Tatenda Taibu, their captain, managed to find a silver lining. "We ourselves can't do any worse than we did against New Zealand on Wednesday in Bulawayo," said Taibu. "We were poor in all departments of the game, batting, bowling and fielding, especially the latter.

"There really is room for a lot of improvement and we have been very working very hard with Kevin Curran [their coach]. I'm sure our failures won't happen again when we meet India. It has been too early to judge the Indian batting, so we'll simply take it on its merits."

After the debacle on Friday, Suresh Raina might be in contention to take up Venugopal Rao's spot in the XII, but it's unlikely that the think-tank will make any other changes to the side.