Happy to get the first win under my belt: Gambhir

GUWAHATI - India’s stand-in cricket captain Gautam Gambhir was happy to have a win under his belt in his first One-day international as a captain here Sunday.

“Leading the first side and to get the first win under your belt is very satisfying. Everyone chipped in and Virat (Kohli) went on to score a big one. I am happy with the team’s effort. We also would have bowled first on this wicket as there was a lot for the bowlers,” said Gambhir, after leading India to a 40-run win over New Zealand at the Nehru Stadium.

“So the game plan was to just stay there and try not to lose too many in the first ten overs. As a captain, I am taking one game per time. I would like to say that Ashwin bowled brilliantly. Nehra and other bowlers too bowled well,” Gambhir added.

Man of the Match Kohli, who hit 105, wants to continue in the same fashion throughout the series.

“It feels good. I went out there and continue my form . HOpefully I can continue in the next few games. I had a kind of a lean patch in Sri Lanka recently; the team-mates and coach backed me. I would like to thank them. I try to probably stop myself if I feel like playing a big shot and enjoy the singles. I have been lucky that we have had strike players in the other end. My role is to bat long and put the team in a good position,” he said.

New Zealand’s stand-in captain Ross Taylor said it was the inability of the bowlers to take early wickets that did them in.

“We wanted some early wickets but (Murali) Vijay and Gambhir batted well. Also Virat Kohli. We couldn’t take early wickets as they did to us. Disappointing result. Martin Guptill batted well but we lost 3-4 wickets. Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum got us close but Virat had played well and I think took the game away from us. Hopefully we can pick ourselves up and play well in the next game,” he said.