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After Disaster Day in Pune, Anil Kumble Defends Indian Team

“You are bound to have one bad day.”

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India head coach Anil Kumble sprung to his team's defense after they sensationally surrendered to Australia's inexperienced left arm spinner Stephen O'Keefe to be bowled out for 105 and concede a big first innings lead on day two of the first Test.

The leg spin ace said any team, including India which is having a glorious 19-Test unbeaten streak, was bound to have one bad day even in this successful phase.

"You are bound to have one bad day. It was disappointing. We were in a pretty decent position when (KL) Rahul and Ajinkya (Rahane) were batting out there. But once Rahul got out, we lost those four wickets in five or six balls. That certainty pushed us back. It was one of those things with a couple of soft dismissals," said Kumble after Australia took command of the opening skirmish of the four-game series at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

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“You are bound to have one bad day.”
Australian bowler Steve O’Keefe celebrates his six wickets during the first test match played against India in Pune on Friday. (Photo: PTI)

Malaysia-born O'Keefe, in only his fifth Test and first in India, scalped six for 35 in a sensational spell of 6 for 5 in 24 balls to run through the home team's first innings as they lost 7 wickets for 11 runs to be 105 all out.

"This pitch was certainly challenging, so we needed a lot more restraint and showed that if you put your head down, you could make those runs. It was unfortunate that once Rahul got out, we seemed to lose the bearing at that point of time,” Kumble explained.

He described the surface, which has been at the focus of attention, as a challenging one.

"It is a challenging surface which requires application, aggression and a bit of caution as well. You need a mix out of that. And today was not our day. We have to give credit to the Australian bowlers as well. It was one of those days when you go back and start, ‘Ok, how do we come back and pick those six wickets?'

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Kumble rued the missed catches by his team which gave three lives to opposition captain Steven Smith to remain unbeaten on 59 at stumps.

"We would like to restrict them to as little as possible. We dropped a few catches. It has hurt us in the past, especially in this game you need to hold your chances even if half chances. We dropped Steve Smith on couple of occasions; that has certainly pushed us back. Hopefully tomorrow morning we can pick up a few early wickets and then put the pressure back on them."

While complimenting O'Keefe, he also felt that his Indian counterpart Ravindra Jadeja also beat the bat constantly but failed to take the edge of the bat.

"I think he bowled steady. He bowled consistently in good areas. Like I mentioned, there were a couple of soft dismissals, and that pushed us back. It was one of those days where we saw Jadeja bowl in the last session where probably every over he was beating the bat three times. It was one of those days where on another day, that could have all taken the edge."

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