Close defeat in Sydney Test Match still rankles Kumble

The Indians may have managed to keep their reputation intact despite losing the series against Australia but the defeat in the Sydney Test continues to rankle skipper Anil Kumble. 
 
India needed to bat out the last day to salvage a draw in the acrimonious Test marred by ugly gamesmanship and a racism row. But for once, the famed Indian batting order collapsed like a house of cards and the team was shot out with just eight minutes to go. 
 
Describing the Sydney defeat as the lowest point of the series, Kumble said, "Wish we could hang around for another eight minutes to save the match. We came so close to it." 
 
With the win in Sydney, Australia took a 2-0 lead in the four-match series to ensure that they retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy. 
 
India, however, did well to put the disappointment behind and upstage the hosts at Perth and Kumble said he was proud of leading the team at the WACA ground. 
 
"The way we recovered from the Sydney defeat and won at Perth was just great. What made it even more special is the fact that the entire team contributed. 
 
"We did not have any five-for or a century in the match and still we went on to win it," Kumble said. 
 
Reflecting on the series, the veteran spinner said the entire squad gave a good account of itself in the keenly-contested matches. 
 
"Ishant (Sharma), Irfan (Pathan), RP (Singh) - the entire pace attack did an excellent job and every batsman chipped in. 
 
"Sourav (Ganguly) batted brilliantly in the first two matches, Viru (Sehwag), Sachin (Tendulkar), Rahul (Dravid) and then (VVS) Laxman did well too," he said. 
 
"Viru is an integral part of the team and he can change the match alone. His part-time spin also came handy," Kumble said. 
 
The Indian skipper said having just one practice game, that too rain-marred, ahead of the important series hampered the visitors' preparations. 
 
Kumble refused to comment on chances of India pulling out of the forthcoming tri-series here in case the ban on Harbhajan Singh was not lifted. 
 
"It's premature to talk about it and I don't want to go into what might happen. There is a hearing and we are confident that we would get the right verdict," he said.

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