Next target is Champions Trophy

When we entered the DLF Cup, our main aim was to give each of our core group of 18 players good exposure before a crucial season.

That we were able to experiment with various combinations and still come out winners is a great feeling. It's even more satisfying since we are coming out of our off season and many of us had not played cricket for several weeks before this tournament.

I think it's a testimony to the class of Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee that they hit the right line and length after such protracted breaks, and even our batting, particularly the lower order has been really effective.

The final might look a little one-sided when one sees the scoreboard, but the West Indies bowling really tested our top order, and it was left to Damien Martyn and Andrew Symonds to get us back on track.

I knew that a 225-plus total would be tough to overhaul, but I also knew that the wickets of Chris Gayle and Brian Lara were absolutely crucial.

I had mentioned earlier that Chris is the one player who has been really turning around games for his team.

On Sunday, his first-ball dismissal was the turning point. Lee was really fired up after that and put up his second standout performance in three days a remarkable achievement for a fast bowler, under sapping conditions.

Glenn was also excellent at the other end, and though he did not have any wickets, his bowling was enough to keep a stranglehold on the West Indian top order. Once Lara and Sarwan fell, it was pretty difficult for the West Indians and they finally succumbed.

The tri-series showed that even when we were not playing our best cricket, we still had enough firepower to win even against quality opposition.

I think we have some work left in the top order batting, and our bowlers could support Brett a little more.

However, I am happy to see that we improved as the tournament went along.

The West Indies will be disappointed by the frequency with which they have had batting collapses in the tournament.

As for the Indians, I think their normally consistent batsmen looked a little rusty. While we would have taken plenty of positives from this tournament, it also gave the other two sides a chance to reassess their team selection and strategy.

We have now reached Australia and will regroup after a short break. The preparation for the Champions Trophy will then begin in right earnest. It is a title that has eluded us since its inception in 1998, and we are keen to ensure that we win it this time round. We have always enjoyed playing in India, and it's important that we go there with full preparation and high confidence.

The biggest plus from the DLF Cup is that it has provided us with both.