Nagpur: Even as India continue to falter in Test cricket, captain
Mahendra Singh Dhoni said this phase was a forgone conclusion after the
retirement of legends like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.
"Everybody was talking about this phase in Indian cricket when the big
players would move on and the pressure will come on the youngsters and
we may go through a rough patch. I think everybody expected this kind of
a patch. Of course, we have struggled in the last two Tests. If you ask
big questions depending on two Test matches...it (a situation) may come
in the future too where we may lose two Test matches and people will
say, okay all these youngsters should go out and someone else should
come in," Dhoni said on the eve of the fourth and final Test here.
India, down 1-2 in the series that was billed initially as the revenge
rubber for the 4-0 whitewash suffered in England last year, have to win
the final game here to square the series. A draw would fetch the
visitors their first series win in this country after 28 years. Dhoni's
future not only as the captain of the team but also as a player is at
stake, but he doesn't seemed too bothered.
"When people appreciate me a lot, I don't feel as if I am in seventh
heaven. And it's the same when people criticise me. We (Indians) have
extreme opinions. We praise and then start pulling the same individuals
down. I would say it's very important to be in the middle path because
that's how you will enjoy the sport," he insisted.
Asked if there was any message from the ex-cricketers like Dravid and
Mohinder Amarnath who have been stringent on the team's performance,
Dhoni said, "As ex-cricketers we respect their opinions but we have our
own problems to solve."
Dhoni, whose head seems to be on the chopping block after a series of
poor results, insisted that in India every Tom, Dick and Harry had an
opinion about the game.
"If you are part of the Indian cricket set up everything is under the
microscope and everybody has an opinion. You can ask plenty of questions
on why that guy was not picked and why this guy was not given the new
ball. It's a team sport. It's getting very critical," he lamented.
The wicketkeeper-batsman insisted that despite two back-to-back defeats, the spirit of the team was high.
"Spirit in the team is really good. When you go through a bad patch
you fail to enjoy. Dressing room atmosphere is great," said Dhoni, who
has flopped both with the bat and behind the wicket.
The skipper said the true character of a team can be judged only during a tough situation.
"As a captain and an individual such a situation does not happen
often. It was a similar situation against South Africa too (in 2008)
when we played at home and were down in the series and the last game was
at Kanpur (and won the match to draw the rubber). But such situations
are very few. Won't say it's a very good situation to be in, but the
true character of a person as well as the team comes out in tough
situations. In a way it's good we are in a situation like this. We have
nowhere to go and have to do well in this game," he remarked.
Dhoni didn't reveal whether the team would go in with three spinners
as it had done in Mumbai, saying all pros and cons have to be weighed
before taking a decision.
"The wicket looks good and hard. The combination of the team...you
have to wait and watch. Can play the third spinner if you can weigh how
important roles the fast bowlers and spinners can have on this wicket.
There will be some reverse swing (depends on) whether we are going with
that or with the fact that as the game progresses the additional spinner
can be very effective in the second innings. We have to take into
consideration all these and then decide on the playing combination."
Asked why Virender Sehwag does not stand in the slips to the fast
bowlers, Dhoni explained: "He got hit in the last first class game
(Delhi-UP Ranji Trophy before the start of the India-England Test
series) he played, got a cut in his hand.
"That's the reason he does not stand in slips for fast bowlers. But it
does not affect him standing in the slips for the spinners."
Dhoni praised Gautam Gambhir for the way he had batted in Mumbai (second innings) and Kolkata.
"The best thing about Gautam is his aggressive character. He has
batted very well in the last two games. Being aggressive is not only
about stepping out and hitting the ball but also about positively
defending."
On the environment in the dressing room following the sacking of three
seniors - Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh - after India's
loss in the third Test at Kolkata, Dhoni said there was still enough
experience.
"Sachin has played close to 200 Tests, Virubhai has played over 100
Tests and Ishant Sharma has also played a lot of games. There are enough
people to guide the younger lot. Ultimately it's not the number of
games you have played, but about what kind of form the team is in, and
what's needed from the individuals."
He also said he did not believe in spoon feeding the erring bowlers.
"It's important not to spoon feed players. Everyone from captain to
senior player to coach is there to help the bowlers. Ultimately it's up
to the bowlers to execute the plans. During breaks there is the chance
to talk to them but it sends a kind of panic," Dhoni insisted.(PTI)
Nagpur: Even as India continue to falter in Test cricket, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said this phase was a forgone conclusion after the retirement of legends like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. Cricket
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