India determined to whitewash Kiwis: Kirsten

PTI, March 13,2009

Joseph Hoover

 

Auckland, Mar 13 (PTI) The Indian team is in a dilemma on whether to field a full-strength team in their bid for a 4-0 sweep or give the reserve players a chance in the fifth and final cricket one-dayer against New Zealand here tomorrow.

 

India coach Gary Kirsten said there is a temptation to rest key players from the match but the team was also eager to continue with the winning momentum going into the Test series starting April 18.

 

India has a 3-0 lead in the series, the second match of which was washed out in Wellington.

 

"We would be tempted to rest some players, but we also want to make sure we keep the momentum going. It is important on a tour to set yourself up to win games of cricket on a consistent level, and momentum is very important on a tour".

 

"So we haven't made a decision. We have spoken about a little bit," said Kirsten, addressing the media in the absence of skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who had set out for deep-sea fishing.

 

Asked whether Sachin Tendulkar, whose abdomen injury kept him out of the fourth one-dayer in Hamilton, could return to action in tomorrow's match, Kirsten said, "We are not sure yet. We will have to wait and see." PTI