Kolkata: Bengal coach Ashoke Malhotra today didn't shy away from taking a dig at former coach WV Raman indirectly pointing to the latter's lack of communication skills that hampered Bengal's chances in Ranji Trophy for past three seasons.
Asked what different did he do compared to Raman, Malhotra gave a sarcastic answer:"I speak Bengali and the boys perhaps did not understand 'Madrasi' (Tamil) earlier!"
Having played for Bengal in Ranji Trophy over a decade, Malhotra's knowledge of Bengali language as good as anyone in the state.
On a serious note, Malhotra said that the youngsters in the side were not afraid of having a confrontation with domestic heavyweights like Abhinav Mukund.
"The youngsters are full of energy and confidence. They could talk to Abhinav Mukund face to face," Malhotra, who took over from Raman this season, said about their stunning four-run win in Tamil Nadu that sealed their last-eight berth.
Under Raman's three season tenure, Bengal failed to make the knock-outs while Bengal this time have defied all odds to make the quarters after 2008-09.
The team did not get the services of batting mainstay Manoj Tiwary, pacer Mohammad Shami for a single match while Wriddhiman Saha was available for only four of the eight league matches.
"We're peaking at the right time. We have a performing captain. We're just three matches away from the title. We all are very excited and looking forward," the 56-year-old said.
Two-time champions Bengal won the title last time in 1989-90 in a Sambaran Banerjee-led side that saw the debut of former India captain Sourav Ganguly.
"On paper, they were a much stronger side. But our team atmosphere is fantastic at the moment... The biggest thing is whole of Bengal seem to be excited," Malhotra said.
The Bengal coach however rued that the wicket had less grass to what they had expected.
"Both the sides are dependent on pacers. We're looking forward to play to our potential, and we're here to play good cricket. But probably the wicket does not have the amount of the grass we expected."
Bengal were furious at Railways after their skipper Murali Kartik 'Mankaded' Sandipan Das in their league encounter and both the team's coaches said they have come out of the incident.
"We've left it on the field, that's too small incident now. We're more concerned about winning the next three matches to win the Ranji Trophy," Malhotra said.
Echoing the same, Railways coach Abhay Sharma said: "We're happy to be here, the people are friendly. There will not be any controversy from now on."
"Our job is to play cricket. We've been playing well. Ultimately it will boil down to the team who performs well on the given day," Sharma said.
Meanwhile, CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya said they would be big surprise for Bengal if they win quarters.
Asked what would be the incentive, Dalmiya said: "It will be big if they win quarters, bigger and best if they go past semis and final respectively."
