Kumble hopes team repeat Kolkata feat

Fresh from being announced as the Test captain for the upcoming series against Australia, Anil Kumble tried to play down the challenge of facing the best Test team, and instead focussed on the third Test against Pakistan in Bangalore.

"We need a good result in Bangalore," he said, "and wrap up the series against Pakistan first." He suggested that India would again aim to bat Pakistan out of the game like in Kolkata. "Score 600 and then take 20 wickets," he said. "We weren't too far in the last Test, only six wickets short."

Kumble, who was speaking at a sponsor's event in Bangalore, said he was more concerned about team results than personal milestones. "It's important to get the right results." Having already taken 578 Test wickets, Kumble felt No. 600 would not be far away. Muttiah Muralitharan broke Shane Warne's record recently, but Kumble said it was too far-fetched for him to even think of upstaging Murali.

"He's like a taxi-meter. He only goes in tens," Kumble remarked of Murali. "It's too hard to catch him."

Asked about the upcoming Australian tour, Kumble appeared bullish on the team's prospects and referred to India's 1-1 draw in the Test series the last time they toured the country. "We did well the last time around. I see no reason why we won't do well again," he said. "We had a great chance to win the series in [the final Test] in Sydney." Kumble would have mixed memories of that Test, having taken 12 wickets but also seeing chances go down off his bowling, which ultimately cost India the series win.

When asked if there were any special preparations in plan for Australia, Kumble said the task right now was to focus on the final Test against Pakistan. He said the mood in the team was upbeat.