Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly on Saturday expressed happiness over the allround performance of the team in the ICC Champions Trophy match against Kenya and said they were ready for the big game against Pakistan.
"It is good that the team has begun to perform well. We batted very well today and even the bowlers bowled brilliantly," Ganguly said after India inflicted a 98-run defeat over Kenya in their opening Pool C encounter at the Rose Bowl.
On the next game against Pakistan, Ganguly said the team was ready for the challenge. "We are up for it (match against Pakistan). It will be a cracker of a game."
The Indian skipper said he had mixed emotions about his batting performance as he had played well but missed two hundreds in a week.
"Yes it is kind of mixed feeling. I have been missed two hundreds in a week."
Ganguly, who was named the Man-of-the-match for his 90 runs, had also missed the century by the same margin in the third and final One-Day International against England in the Natwest Challenge series on Sunday.
"We are playing international matches after 18 months. This does not help us. True the tri-series against India 'A' and Pakistan 'A' helped in preparing for the Champions Trophy since we could get some match practice but we need more games."
{{/usCountry}}"We are playing international matches after 18 months. This does not help us. True the tri-series against India 'A' and Pakistan 'A' helped in preparing for the Champions Trophy since we could get some match practice but we need more games."
{{/usCountry}}Off spinner Harbhajan Singh, who finished with bowling figures of 3-33, said he was glad to bowl consistently well after the operation and expressed hope that he would continue the same performance throughout the series.
"I am glad to be bowling well after the operation. It were tough seven months seating at home during that period."
Harbhajan was forced to withdraw from the tour Down Under following an finger injury and could not play competitive cricket for over seven months.