I share a good rapport with team members: Kumble

In his first assignment as India coach, Anil Kumble today said he shared a good rapport with skipper Virat Kohli and the other team members and he's looking forward to a long Test season ahead.
India today began their four-Test campaign against the West Indies here under new coach Kumble's guidance.
"I have been a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (in IPL). We played together for three years and then also I have known him. He has matured a lot. He is good on the field and really aggressive, so that is something that he brings to the table," said Kumble before the start of the first Test here.

"And his batting, we all know how good a player he is. The team has been blending really well and I felt really welcomed and that's a good thing," he added.
The 45-year-old legendary spinner said that his team is all geared up for the 15 Tests in the upcoming season.
"This team has really done well. It is a young team. Some of them are there in the Caribbean for the first time. So it would be a great experience. There are 4-5 seniors players as well who have played here. Most of them have played one-day cricket but not Test cricket. Really looking forward to the long season of Test cricket," said Kumble.

The last time India had won an away Test series was in the West Indies and Kumble said it was a positive thing.

"That is something positive for us. First Test match is important. Look forward to starting on a good note," he said.
(REOPENS DEL 27)
Virat Kohli's men is currently sharing the record of undefeated run of 19 Tests with Kapil Dev led side in the mid-1980s.
To a question regarding the record, Kumble said his team is just focusing on doing well in the first session for now and not thinking about any impending landmarks.
"Yes those things are there but we don't want to look too far ahead, would like to take this Test match, focusing on this Test and then Bengaluru and the others. We would like to start off on a good note here," he said.

"We take one game at a time, right at start of New Zealand series we looked at the entire season. It's important to start every Test with the first session, that's how we look at things we want to start on a good note.
"If you look at our playing eleven it has not been the same (in every game) and that is the beauty of this team. Whoever has come into the side has contributed and those who have not made it to the playing eleven have also contributed.
"We want to go one game at a time, here also we are looking at the first session. Even this test match against Australia would be about looking at the first session and not at these kinds of landmarks."

Kumble said the team had recognized the key moments in the games gone by and done well because of the experience.
"To recognise the key moments, you need experience and we have it. We have won the key moments in the past few Tests. The team knows which are the key moments, the role of captain (Virat Kolhi) is important and he has led from the front," he said.
"Yes all those matches we have played and all those situations we had been in, top order and lower order contributions have been good, bowling not only spinners also the faster bowlers stood up in key moments that's what has stood us up in good stead. There will be tough moments in the series but the squad will come up with ideas on field.

"We are happy at this juncture leading up to this series. All players in the squad have had good run-ins with bat or ball and overall I am really happy with the way at this juncture leading up to the Test series," he added.
Kumble did not want to compare the current lot of visiting team's spinners with former ones like the great Shane Warne.
"Something I don't really want to comment on. You had some great spinners from the past coming from Australia like (Shane) Warne but to compare is a tough ask. We respect the opposition. We would like to prepare as to what whichever combination they put on the field.