He said, ``it was important for the entire team to do well rather than any individual's performance. ``We didn't want to lose this series, particularly before the tough tour of Australia.''

He added: ``On hindsight, losing the toss proved good as our bowlers tied up the opponents. It would have been a difficult decision to make if I had won the toss.''

On Devang Gandhi being asked to open, Tendulkar said he wanted the left-right combination to remain without disturbing the debutant's usual batting position.

New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming attributed his team's defeat to its inability to score runs quickly in the early stages to tight bowling by India.

``I thought the life in the wicket wouldn't last. But the 180 target was a good total to defend, but unlike India, we couldn't take early wickets,'' he said,adding he would have been satisfied with a total of around 220.He praised Ganguly for his knock, saying "the opening partnership took the match away from us.''

``The ICC rules do not permit me to comment on umpiring decisions today, but I felt it was inconsistent,'' Fleming said.

Analysing the tour, he said, ``We did make the series a close one. We have learnt a lot and take with us the knowledge of how to play in the sub-continent.''

``We are happy with the Indian wickets. It is a nice change to play here. To become better cricketers, we have to learn to play on such tracks,'' Fleming said ahead of his team's departure for home via Singapore tomorrow morning.

Ganguly felt the Kotla pitch was lucky for him. ``I knew I was one of the contenders for the car,'' he said. Asked about the forthcoming tour of Australia, Ganguly who had made his one-day debut there in 1992, said: ``Then I was a tourist. Now I am going on a cricket tour.''