India will come back from defeat: Ganguly

Galle, August 17: After a humiliating loss, it was brave words from captain Saurav Ganguly who today predicted that India would come back into the three-Test series against Sri Lanka just as they did against the mighty Australians earlier this year.

"We will come back as we did against the Aussies," Ganguly said after India suffered their first Test defeat to Sri Lanka in 16 years.

"(Unfortunately) we have got injuries to a few key players," he said referring to the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and V V S Laxman from the side.

"They (Sri Lankans) batted better (than us) and bowled a decent line especially on the third day," Ganguly said conducting a post-mortem of the 10-wicket loss.

Not ready to accept that India were a very different team outside their own soil, Ganguly reminded that his team had won a match abroad, against Zimbabwe, in recent months.

"(And) we have been in winning positions on a number of occasions abroad but were not able to capitalise... Now we have got the potential and have a much better batting side. We have four or five good guys," he said.

A jubiliant home skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, who was declared the man-of-the-match for his brilliant century that set the tempo for his team, lauded his bowling attack.

"First Dilhara (Feranando) and then Murali (Muthiah Muralitharan) bowled well. I'am happy for Dilhara and we've got a host of fast bowlers coming up," he said.