Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said that his team was prepared mentally and physically for the forthcoming tour of Zimbabwe and expressed confidence of reversing India's dismal performance overseas.

"The preparation has been good. We are mentally and physically prepared for the Zimbabwe tour and I am pretty confident that we have a good chance of winning the series", Ganguly said in an interview to Doordarshan in Kolkata on Tuesday.

He said that the Indians were mentally fitter after their series win against the formidable Australians and hoped that his teammates will display the same toughness on the tour. "Mental preparation has to be done by the players, it is the individual player's concern. The coach and the physio can look after the physical aspects. I expect all the players to be mentally fit", the elegant left hander said.

Ganguly, however, warned against any complacency creeping in despite the preparations. "Although the preparations have been good, we have to do well in the match. That is very important."

Ganguly, who has been practicing with a bowling machine in Kolkata since returning from the Bangalore camp, said that bowling machines were not of much help though it could be useful for mastering a particular stroke. "Bowling machines are not of much help. I practised with a machine for a few days only because I wanted to master a certain stroke. But for regular practice, it is not handy," Ganguly said.

On the conditions the team expected in Zimbabwe, the Indian captain said that the wickets were likely to assist the seamers and the pace bowlers had a key role to play. "The conditions in Zimbabwe generally assist the seamers. The ball is likely to seam", he observed.

Asked whether he would use himself as a bowler during the tour, Ganguly said "batting will be the first preference. Depending on the situation of the game, I will utilise my bowling."

© PTI