Kapil Dev hails Indian victory

Former skipper Kapil Dev led the praise for India after their series-levelling victory over England in the third Test at Headlingley on Monday.

India's victory by an innings and 46 runs was their biggest ever away from home.

"I am delighted. Even winning by 10 runs would have been sweet," said Kapil Dev.

The victory was built on a mammoth total of 628 for eight, their highest innings score outside India.

The win has given India hopes of claiming their first overseas victory since Kapil Dev's side won 2-0 in England 16 years ago. The fourth and final Test starts at The Oval on September 5.

The former all-rounder attributed the convincing victory to excellent batting which featured hundreds by leading players Sachin Tendulkar (193), Rahul Dravid (148) and skipper Saurav Ganguly (128).

"It was important we got so many runs. The bowlers got the chance... to have so many fielders around the bat," he said, in an obvious reference to criticism that the side does not match its strong home performances while playing abroad.

PRESSURE

Kapil Dev said the victory was also significant because the players were under tremendous pressure over their refusal to sign a controversial ICC contract for next month's Champions Trophy.

"They were under hell of a pressure. But they kept their focus," he said.

Indian players were under more pressure going into the game as their counterparts from leading sides like Australia and England had agreed to sign up following assurances from their national boards.

Chief selector Chandu Borde praised India's victory as "perfect".

"It was as if everything was meticulously chalked out," the former all-rounder said.

He praised man of the match Dravid, who laid the foundation on the opening day under seamer-friendly conditions to set the tone for Tendulkar and Ganguly to put India in command.

"Dravid's patient batting broke the back of the England bowlers. After a creditable draw at Trent Bridge (in the second test), the confidence will be up."

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