Kumble in self defence: Everybody has an off day

The Indian skipper is ready to play the waiting game on this. “As far as my shoulder is concerned, it is much better now. There are still three days to go for the Mohali Test. We will monitor it (shoulder) closely,” he says, triggering another set of speculations over his availability and the combination of the second Test, especially after his rare wicket-less show in Bangalore.

“I think just one failure should not be held against a player. As a captain I have played my part. But I could not take wickets. It is not possible for a bowler to take wickets in every Test as everybody has an off day.”

Though a session by session count would place the scales heavily in favour of Australia to win the opening Test, Kumble feels India were very much in the hunt even towards the end. “We would have definitely chased the target if Viru and Gambhir had given us a good start,” Kumble said.

Kumble admitted the pitch wasn’t up to his satisfaction, and losing the toss proved a major handicap. “The Bangalore pitch has changed with people fiddling with it in the past eight years or so. I think the toss also played an important role and if I had won the toss probably things would have been different.”

Mohali has always been a tricky venue for India but Kumble is confident of getting a lead in the series here. “We are certainly going for a win at Mohali. We are confident of doing well in the series as our aim is to win the series,” he says, adding that Indian middle-order that creaked in the first Test will come up with a well-oiled performance in the next game.

“It is unfair to point a finger at any of them (Fab Four). Laxman has been a...