India in West Indies 2006

Wadekar pleased with Indian performance

Cricinfo staff

July 3, 2006

Ajit Wadekar, the last Indian captain to win a series in West Indies, is pleased with the performance of the current captain Rahul Dravid and his team. India won 1-0 © Getty Images

Ajit Wadekar, the former captain of India, who led the side to a series victory in West Indies in 1970-71, congratulated Rahul Dravid and the Indian team on winning the series at Kingston.

"Rahul has always led from the front and has done it again. He knows exactly the difference between batting in one-dayers as compared to doing so in Tests," Wadekar told the Press Trust of India. "He knows the latter is a five-day game and one has to bat patiently and that's what he's done so brilliantly."

India won the four-Test series by defeating West Indies by 49 runs in Jamaica. Setting West Indies a target of 269, India bowled them out for 219 on the third day of the final Test.

Wadekar, who won the series with an identical scoreline of 1-0, was also pleased with the bowling performances of both Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble. "Harbhajan and Anil have always bowled well in tandem. Both bowled brilliantly and played a big part in the victory. In fact, it was a mistake in not playing Harbhajan in the first two Tests. Otherwise, India could have won the series stylishly with a handsomely bigger margin." With six wickets in the second innings, Kumble increased his series total to 23 at an average of 28.6.

Harbhajan got his best away-figures with 5 for 13 in the first innings as West Indies were bowled out for 103. He finished with 11 wickets in the four Tests, but Wadekar felt that he could have done better. "If Virender Sehwag could get wickets, then Harbhajan certainly could have [in the first two Tests]. They could certainly have won the series with a bigger margin looking at the opposition, the wickets etc.

"Anyway, winning the last Test in just three days was a huge achievement," he added. "At last they have showed they can do it overseas also."

India's next overseas tour is to South Africa in November where they will play three Tests and five one-day internationals.

© Cricinfo

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Players/Umpires

Rahul Dravid

Harbhajan Singh

Anil Kumble

Ajit Wadekar

Series/Tournaments

India tour of West Indies

Teams

India