Sourav Ganguly believes India's Twenty20 World Cup triumph is an extension of the team's purple patch and the side is capable of beating world champions Australia in the seven-match ODI series starting on Saturday.
Ganguly said despite India's Twenty20 victory in South Africa, the series against Australia would be a difficult one because the format would be different.
"It's completely a different format of the game. Fifty-over matches would require more skills than Twenty20. It will be a lot more difficult game."
"We have to take a series at a time and I think we are capable of beating Australia," Ganguly told a private TV channel.
And Ganguly's optimism stems from the side's impressive show in recent times.
"In the last six-seven months, Indian cricket has done well, starting from the Bangladesh tour to South Africa, England and now in the Twenty20 World Cup."
Ganguly heaped praise on Mahendra Singh Dhoni and said the Jharkhand player was outstanding as a skipper in South Africa.
"I think he has done a wonderful job there. I like his attitude on the field. He has got a carefree attitude which is important. As India captain, you have lot of pressure to go with it and you need that sort of attitude to succeed," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"I think he has done a wonderful job there. I like his attitude on the field. He has got a carefree attitude which is important. As India captain, you have lot of pressure to go with it and you need that sort of attitude to succeed," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Dhoni led India to a nail-biting five-run win against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup final and during the celebration, he took his shirt off and gifted it to an young fan. Asked if that reminded him of going shirtless in the Lord's balcony when India won the NatWest trophy, a coy Ganguly said, "No, not really."