"India will win this series...3 - 0..."

Former Australia skipper Steve Waugh, on Tuesday predicted a 3-0 win for India in the ongoing four-match Test series against England, at home.cricnews

"India will win this series...they’ll win it 3-0 because the pitches will suit their team," Waugh said during the India- Australia Innovative Forum in New Delhi.

"India are a strong side, always hard to beat in India and some of the young players are coming through, which is great sign for Indian cricket. Pujara getting a double century, Ojha taking wickets, it’s great for Indian cricket," he added further.

MS Dhoni and Men soundly beat the tourists by nine wickets in the series opener on Monday to take a 1-0 lead in the series. After amassing a mammoth total, 521 for 8 (declared), in their first innings, courtesy Cheteshwar Pujara (206 not out), the Indian spinners, Pragyan Ojha and R Ashwin, outclassed the English batting line-up rolling them over for 191 and 406.

Only the visiting skipper Alastair Cook (176) and Matt Prior (91) showed some application against Ojha’s spin, sharing a 157-run stand in the second innings. Ojha was the pick of Indian attack, returning with career best figures of 9 for 165.

The the 47-year-old said Australian veteran also criticised Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for asking the curators to prepare pitches that suit Indian team, saying if a side wants to be best in the world it should be able to play well in all conditions, both home and away.

Dhoni, after winning the series opener against England by nine wickets, had expressed discontent with the Ahmedabad pitch and said that they wanted the groundsmen to prepare the wickets that will turn from day one.

Waugh, who led Australia quite successfully in 57 Tests, winning 41 of them and losing only nine,  said that he was surprised by the Indian skipper’s comments.

"Dhoni's comments this morning were really negative to the game, when he said Indian curators to doctor the pitches," said Waugh, a veteran of 168 Tests.

"I was a bit surprised with that. I think if you’re looking to be the best in the world you got to learn to play in all conditions," added the Australian great.

The second Test of the series gets underway in Mumbai on Friday, November 23, 2012.

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