Dasgupta confident of handling dual job

India's first innings centurion Deep Dasgupta on Tuesday said his maiden Test century, against England, has given him the confidence to continue with the dual job -- that of the opener and the wicketkeeper -- in future.

Dasgupta, who overcame a sluggish start to score a fine 100 to help India put up 262 for 3 in the first innings on the second day of the Test in Mohali, said he would not find it difficult to carry out the dual job.

"It is not difficult to do both... I am confident I can do both," he told reporters.

Dasgupta, who opened the innings because first choice Sanjay Bangar had sprained a leg muscle, said he was just aiming to see through the new ball to make things easy for the other batsmen, but in the process became only the sixth Indian wicketkeeper to score a hundred in a Test match.

"I think I have done my job. Now it is for the other batsmen to ensure that a good total is in place," Dasgupta said.

"The feeling of scoring a first century has not sunk in yet," he said, and added that the 63 he hit in South Africa in the second Test at Port Elizabeth had probably come under more challenging circumstances. That innings had played a vital role in saving the Test for India.

The young wicketkeeper, playing only his fourth Test match, said the experience he gained on the tour of South Africa had helped him a lot.

"The first time I played well, we could save the match against South Africa. Now that I have hit a century, I hope we would be able to win this match," he said.

Dasgupta said the wicket was playing easy and though all the English bowlers were tight he did not find much difficulty in negotiating them.

"(Rahul) Dravid kept helping me out in the middle and I gained in confidence."

He denied he lost his wicket because of a lapse in concentratiion after touching the magical three-figure mark.

"It was this sharp incoming ball which was responsible for my wicket and there was no lapse in concentration," he said, adding he was mentaly prepared to face the second new ball even after completing the century.

He was all praise for his coach Sunita Sharma (of SAI, Delhi) and attributed his success in international cricket to the skills acquired under her.

Meanwhile, the centurion's mother, Krishna Dasgupta, who travelled all the way to see her son play in Mohali, said she was elated after her son's performance.

"It is his first Test in the country and he came out as per my expectations in the first innings," the beaming mother said.

She said she had spoken to her son in the morning to give him "all the encouragement".

Images from day 2 of the first Test against England

Mail Cricket Editor