Mohinder Amarnath and Greg Chappell were upbeat after returning from their interviews for the job of India cricket coach on Thursday evening.

They were the first of the four shortlisted candidates who met with the Board of Control for Cricket in India's interviewing panel, comprising former India captains Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Srinivas Venkatraghavan and Board of Control for Cricket in India president Ranbir Singh Mahendra, secretary Nair and former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, at the Taj Palace this afternoon.

Meet the contenders

The other two contenders, former West Indies opener Desmond Haynes and Australia's Tom Moody, will make their presentations later in the day.

Former India batsman Amarnath said he was "quite pleased with the way the interview went and satisfied with its outcome".

"I had my brother-in-law to assist me with the computer in my presentation, since I am not too familiar operating it. The interview lasted an hour-and-a-half and I think it went well," he said.

The conversation, he said, centered around the game and how he could improve upon the Indian team.

Former Australia captain Chappell was all smiles as he emerged from the interview.

Asked if he would be able to make a difference to the Indian team if selected for the job, he replied, "Hope so."

He said John Wright achieved a certain amount of success with the team and he would be looking to build on it "as India has the potential to win the next World Cup".

When told that Australia is a formidable side, he said, "There are still two years to go for the World Cup."

Asked whether his presentation was any different from the one he made four years ago, before Wright was selected, he replied, "Of course; you can't make one twice."

He thanked the committee for giving him an opportunity to hear him and said he is looking forward to a positive reply.

Haynes, who was shortlisted after former India coach Sandeep Patil pulled out, admitted he is a dark horse among the four contenders but said his knowledge of the Caribbean, where the 2007 World Cup will be staged, makes him a "frontrunner".

"Coming from the Caribbean, I think I am very much the frontrunner. I know the pitches and cricket played out there. There aren't enough candidates better than me in that department," he said.

The 39-year old Moody felt being the youngest of the lot is a point in his favour.

"I am not only the youngest but all the tallest of the lost," the former Australian all-rounder joked.

Admitting he does not have the Test-playing experience of Chappell, he said his coaching experience makes him a strong contender for the job.

Earlier report: Amarnath, Chappell optimistic