By Oliver Brett BBC Sport Online, The Oval

They huddled together in the few stands that afforded protection from the incessant rain.

Some Indian fans had already seen their team triumph at Lord's in the extraordinary one-day series final.

Others were hoping for their first glimpse of their heroes who had pushed England all the way to deny the home team revenge in the Tests.

Test series ends drawn

Yusuf Abdul-Gafor, 27, sought shelter in the canopy of a fast-food truck as the puddles spread steadily across an outfield that would witness no cricket at all on Monday.

New star Sanjay Bangar signs autographs

He was one of many who felt that this team, unable to break the 16-year habit of failing to win Test series outside Asia, were halfway towards solving the problem.

But he also reckons certain things need to change.

"We need a good pace bowler, a really good, penetrative fast bowler. Zaheer Khan has done OK, but the problem has come with the seamers who support him.

"We also need a good all-rounder," added the 27-year-old student.

"We need someone like Kapil Dev, who helped us win the World Cup over here in 1983."

Hitesh Patel, 25, reckoned that although Javagal Srinath's expertise with the new ball was perhaps missed, youth is the only solution now.

Rahul Dravid has been "inspirational"

"Look at how Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif won the one-day final for us. And look too at Parthiv Patel.

"He's just 17 and he is playing Test cricket for his country. You can hear him shouting to his team-mates all the time - we have a great spirit in our team and new blood is the way forward."

Having travelled with his cousin Minesh Patel from Ilford in Essex, Hitesh was hoping to see Test cricket for the first time.

And Minesh was in no doubt as to who India's leading lights had been during the Tests. "Sourav Ganguly is an exceptional captain and Rahul Dravid has been inspirational," he said.

Underneath the scoreboard, a small band of drenched Indian fans were determined to enjoy themselves as they danced, waving a banner and blowing horns.

Watching them from the opposite end of the ground, in the stand nearest the pavilion, was Afaq Naseem, 28, from Camden, north London.

"India have come back well in the series to be honest. They got quite a pounding at Lord's but since then have done well," he said.

Some see a case for Sadagopan Ramesh

"The new opener, Sanjay Bangar, interested me a lot.

"Everyone expected Rahul Dravid to do well but if you were to pick an outsider - someone you didn't expect to do well - Bangar would be my choice."

Like so many others, Naseem reckoned India's principal weakness was in the fast-bowling department. "They need someone like Brett Lee or Shoaib Akhtar," he said

"I wouldn't have Virender Sehwag opening either," he added. "I would push for Dravid to open, because I think he's so composed."

Abdul-Gafor, meanwhile, reckons Sadagopan Ramesh should return to the side in his opening role, and perhaps share the responsibility with VVS Laxman.

Watching from the pub

His abiding memory of the summer, though, will be the Lord's final in the one-day series.

"We actually had a massive heart attack when Tendulkar got out and we left the ground.

"Then we watched the rest of the match in the pub as Yuvraj and Kaif won India the game."

Generally, the Indian fans at The Oval on Monday were in good spirits, unlike two English fans strolling towards the ground more in hope than expectation of seeing any cricket.

"Raining. No fags. No breakfast," one muttered to another. "We could have watched Middlesex play but it'll be raining there too."