Buoyed by the Test series win against Pakistan, skipper Anil Kumble [Images] believes India has the firepower to beat Australia in their own den.

Kumble, who notched up the win in his maiden assignment as captain, said the strength of the side is their batting line-up but they also have bowlers who can take 20 wickets.

"We have the potential to beat Australia because we have the batting line-up to put the runs on the board," Kumble said.

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"And once we have the runs on the board, I believe we have the ability to get 20 wickets," he told CNN-IBN.

The 37-year-old leg spinner said the captaincy came at a time when he thought he had given up hopes of leading the side.

"I thought the chance had passed me, I thought there was a chance when I was vice-captain in 1996," said Kumble, adding that he didn't expect to be made captain even as recently as two months ago.

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"When I became captain, was not in my control, and I think it has come at the right time," said Kumble who recently pipped Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images] for the Test captaincy, after Rahul Dravid [Images] had given up the job.

Kumble revealed that he had contemplated retirement several times in the past and that Test captaincy was a "shot in the arm".

The veteran spinner said post-retirement, he would prefer taking up coaching in Bangalore to touring as part of the media.