India v Australia: Pune Test loss no cause for hosts to panic ahead of Bangalore encounter
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India coach Anil Kumble has urged his team to move on from the debacle in the opening Test against Australia, as the hosts seek a series-levelling victory in Bangalore.
On a turning wicket in Pune, Australia triumphed by 333 runs inside three days, snapping India's 19-Test unbeaten run stretching back to its tour to Sri Lanka in 2015.
While Virat Kohli's men won in Sri Lanka and West Indies, they also vanquished South Africa, New Zealand, England and Bangladesh for six straight series victories.
"You can't keep winning every game. It has to come to an end at some point of time," said Kumble, ahead of Saturday's opening day of the second Test.
"Twenty games in current scenario of Test cricket, it's quite challenging for an international side to keep going out there and winning. That's what this team has been able to do across conditions.
"We have adapted to various conditions and various situations and that's what we didn't do in the last game. That's why the result didn't go our way."
Kumble, India's highest wicket-taker in Tests, said Pune was just a blip in an otherwise bumper home season.
"I don't want to look back. We are here to look ahead. As a coach it's more important for me to look ahead," said Kumble, who took over the coaching reins last year.
"It was one of those games where things didn't go our way and we just need to move on. Another three Test matches in the series and we are really looking forward to that.
"We have had a fantastic home season and it's just one of those games where things didn't go our way."
Kumble said Australia was a quality opposition but India had not played to its potential in Pune.
He said he was confident the Bangalore pitch would deliver a result.
"It's generally been a good batting surface and I'm sure it's going to be a result wicket," Kumble said.
"That's exactly what we want in a Test match."
Reuters
