Forced to leave his wards before the series-deciding third and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka [Images], India coach Gary Kirsten is confident that his absence would not make a difference to the team's performance as Anil Kumble's [Images] men are focused on the task at hand.

"These players are aware what they need to do and they are right on track in terms of preparations. The important thing is the awareness of the situation. They know they have an opportunity (to win the series)," Kirsten, who flew to South Africa [Images] on Tuesday night to attend to his critically ill mother, said before his departure.

"Every guy is aware if he is not fully focussed for the next Test it could affect the team's performance."

Kirsten said he has "complete faith in what (captain) Anil Kumble can do".

"There is a calm focus about the team and there is a humility about how we are going to go about our business. There is no arrogance in the environment," he said.

Kirsten's belief stems from the team's stupendous display in the Galle Test, which the visitors won inside four days to tie the series 1-1.

The South African said the team's performance in Galle was heartening.

"We were happy with the team's response as they lifted their performance by at least 20 percent (in Galle)," he said.

"But the important thing is there is a real awareness about things to achieve in the next Test. And we have always believed that when this team is firing on all cylinders they can match the best in the world," Kirsten added.

Kirsten lavished praise on Kumble's inspirational leadership.

"There was a tremendous hurt in the team after the loss. I think it all started with Kumble and from there it filtered down to the rest of the team. He is a fantastic leader and fighter," he said.

"So, to motivate the team to improve their performance by 20 per cent was not really difficult. The big challenge now is to see that they maintain it in the third Test since they have pulled one back."

The former South African opener said the Indian success was largely dependent on how the batsmen perform and singled out Virender Sehwag [Images] as the most important cog in the team's scheme of things.

"The success of any Test-playing side is how each batsman sticks to his own skill. We certainly don't say that Sehwag plays like this so the rest of he batsmen need to play like this. He plays like that since he has the skill and ability to play like that," he said.