Skipper Dhoni Hints At Test Retirement By 2013

If there is a better man, give him the job - Dhoni

"I just said my statement. The best thing about statements is, you can assume it the way you want to."

That was MS Dhoni's response when told how his statement that he might have to give up Test cricketat the end of 2013 if he is to captain India to their World Cup defence was seen by many as a general disinterest in Test cricket.

"Maybe by 2013 I'll have to," Dhoni said. "It is two years away, and the kind of cricket we are playing - IPL, 45 days; Champions League; and back-to-back series; lots of games. We have to see where we last. It's not a calendar year where you get a lot of rest, and you get away with small niggles during that rest period."

Dhoni then sought to clarify his thought process. "I said end of 2013," he said. "Now it's the start of 2012, 2013 is two years. I don't know whether I will be alive in two years. That's a long time. What I said was, by the end of 2013, I will have to see whether I can play the World Cup. It wasn't about one format, it was about cricket. I can't play till 2014 and say I am not fit enough to survive till the next World Cup. And you'll have a player coming in who has played just 25 games."

When pointedly asked if he was as interested in Tests as he was in other formats, and whether Test cricket was as important in his mind, Dhoni's response was emphatic. "Of course. Test cricket is the real cricket." However, he went on to say he wasn't running down the other formats either.

"Every form of cricket has its own challenges," Dhoni said. "You have the Test format, the longer version. You have ODI cricket where you can see glimpses of Test cricket and Twenty20s, especially with two balls getting used. And all of a sudden a team loses three or four wickets, and you go and do the consolidating job and then go on with the slog. And then there is the shortest format where you lose five wickets, you go in and the longest consolidating period you get is one over and you start hitting again. All of them are very interesting, and as long as I am able to, I will play all the three formats."

Dhoni was then asked where he felt he was on his Test journey. "I am still on my way. I have not reached any place," he said, suggesting there might finally be something in a Dhoni press conference that might reveal his inner feelings, before going on to show it was just a tease. "If I remember, the thing I said was 2013, which is two years from now on. I don't know if you will be covering cricket or not. I don't know if I will be playing cricket or not. That's a long time."

That's the thing with Dhoni. You never know. If you haven't been to a match, you won't be able to tell from Dhoni's face if he has won it or lost it. There is a sense of detachment, whether real or rehearsed, that has worked for Dhoni, ridding him of the pressures Indian captaincy brings. It has consumed the best of them, even the best tactical captain India has had, Rahul Dravid.

Dhoni has fought it by not acknowledging it, but over the last 12 months, especially after India won the World Cup, you wonder if he has been too detached when India needed a more involved leader to oversee the transition to the next phase. In Australia, loss after loss brought the same combination, same strategy, same faces, same answers. You didn't get a feeling somebody was taking charge. You didn't see Dhoni change his tactics on the field. You can't blame the thinkers for thinking he didn't care. Dhoni, though, will tell you only he knows how much he cares. However, people who wanted to see a sign didn't get to see one.

Then there was intrigue off the field. There were reports of Virender Sehwag wanting the captaincy, and that he was not very appreciative of Dhoni's work. Not to forget that Sehwag can't be very appreciative of his own work, either as batsman or captain at this stage. Sehwag, of course, denied all that. Now that the series is gone, though, rumour mills are abuzz again. Dhoni's captaincy in Tests away from subcontinent is bound to come under scrutiny.

When asked where he saw himself vis-à-vis the captaincy issue, Dhoni said: "It's an added role and responsibility for me. It's not a position that belongs to anyone. That responsibility was given to me three-and-a-half years back. I have been trying to do well, get along with the team, perform well wherever we play.

"It's just a position I hold. It's something I'll always look to do well till I am in the job. It's not something I want to hold on to or stick on to. If there's a better replacement, it's a very open thing. He can come in. At the end of the day you want India to perform. If there is someone who can do a better job, then it's a place that should be given to him. It's not something you have to cling on to."

When asked if, given his workload, he had enough left to go on and lead India's attempt at rebuilding from the defeats, Dhoni said: "It's not an individual who decides whether he is good enough or not. It's others who decide if you are good enough or not. When it comes to effort, I am still giving my 100%."

To paraphrase Dhoni himself, the beauty of statements is, they are open to interpretations. As are the last two. Is he resigned to losing his Test captaincy? Is he so detached he won't fight if it is taken away? Will he not be desperate to correct the lasting memory of his captaincy - back-to-back whitewashes? Or - and this is interesting - is he daring the powers to find a man better suited to the job because there isn't anybody in sight at the moment?

Dhoni said 1st Test Performene

Not a Good start to series: Dhoni

It was not a perfect start to series despite a comprehensive victory in the first Test, according to Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who said the triumph could have been more satisfying had his batsmen shown more application in the first innings.

Dhoni savoured the win but said had they batted well in the first innings, he would have said without any hestitation that it was a perfect start to the series against West Indies.

All India could manage was just 209 in the first innings and consequently conceded a 95-run lead but came from behind to win the match with almost one-and-a-half day to spare.

“If we had the first innings lead it would have been a perfect start to the series. We did not do well in the first innings. If our batsmen see how they were out in the first innings they would think that they should not have been out and done much better. Considering the difficult pitch, a bit of application from the batsmen should have helped,” Dhoni said at the post-match press conference.

Dhoni also insisted that the much-criticised Kotla pitch was not a bad one but a surface “difficult in its own way”.

“Venue-wise, historically Kotla has been a difficult track but I don’t think it was a bad wicket. It’s a typical Kotla track which favours spin more. It’s slow and low and difficult to score. It’s difficult in its own way. I hope Kolkata will be different,” he said.

“There was nothing much for the batsmen as well as bowlers. Batsmen will have to work hard for runs while bowlers will have to be patient and bowl at right areas consistently.

It’s different from earlier tracks in only way that there was a bit of grass. On the third day you can see grass roots and it showed that the track would not break down,” said Dhoni.

Dhoni praised his young bowlers for their good show in the match, besides the efforts of Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.

“Despite the difficult pitch, the bowlers took their opportunities. Pragyan Ojha did well and Ravichandran Ashwin got nine wickets on his debut. Umesh Yadav improved in the second innings though he has a tendency to bowl a fraction of short deliveries. He will learn as he plays more games.

“Ashwin won match of match in his debut. He had the variations and flighted the ball well. He used his carrom ball and top-spinners well.

“Sehwag and Gambhir gave a good start in the first innings and did the same in the second innings. The middle order played well in the second innings and we won,” he said.

Asked specifically about Umesh Yadav, Dhoni said, “He clocked above 135km per hour consistently and its good to have a bowler of that speed. He will learn more as he plays more international cricket.”

Dhoni said as a captain he did not know what to expect from the two debutants Ashwin and Umesh.

“We know what we can expect from Ojha and Ishant but not about Ashwin and Umesh Yadav. So it was a bit difficult,” said Dhoni when asked about playing without strike bowler Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh.

Asked about chances of Harbhajan coming back now that Ojha and Ashwin are doing well, Dhoni said, “Let’s see. Ojha did well and Ashwin won man of match in his debut match.”

Dhoni refused to comment on former India coach Greg Chappell describing him his go-to man in the team in the latter’s book in which the Australian has also criticised Sourav Ganguly.

“We are occupied with what we are doing right now as a team,” was Dhoni’s cryptic reply when asked about Chappell’s comment.

Dhoni on Monday became the first Indian wicketkeeper to record 200 dismissals, surpassing Syed Kirmani. He gave credit for his improvement to keeping against Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

“I was not that good when I started my career as a wicketkeeper. I started keeping for Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh bowling. When Anil bowls his leg-spin at the rough on Indian wickets you know it is like leaving it to god.

“I have improved a lot since then. Maybe because I started keeping against Anil and Bhajji but its a long way to go. Records do not matter much. Hopefully I remain out of major injuries. If the injuries are minor it does not create much of a problem,” he said.

Dhoni Comments On 2nd ODI

Gambhir, Kohli were brilliant: Dhoni

Indian skipper M.S. Dhoni, wearing a broad smile, praised the performance of the youngsters after the second successive win in the ODI series against England.

Dhoni was particularly happy about the unbeaten third-wicket partnership between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli which ensured a smooth eight-wicket victory.

“We did not have to chase too much. It (England's 237) was a slightly under-par score. The partnership between Gautam and Virat was brilliant,” said Dhoni.

He stressed the need for century-maker Kohli to be more consistent and learn to convert his starts into big scores. “He is going through that phase. He is improving,” said the Indian captain.

Dhoni was satisfied with the team's run-chasing ability. “We have been able to chase slightly difficult targets. We are improving while chasing,” he said.

SUPER-SOPPER!

Impressed with the use of three super-soppers at the Ferozeshah Kotla to absorb the dew, Dhoni said the “wet ball” was responsible for India's plight in the rain-affected matches in England as the spinners could not grip the ball properly.

England skipper Alastair Cook admitted that it was a “concern” for his team to “lose heavily twice in a row.”

He said it was difficult for his bowlers to stop the Gambhir-Kohli onslaught.

CONDITIONS PLAY A PART

Cook added that his team was well prepared for this series, and felt that the conditions in the sub-continent played a huge part in the defeats.

“Just as India struggled in England, we are struggling here,” he said.

Watch Ghambhir,Kohli 200 Partnership Moments

Dhoni Says 4th ODI Tie Result

I will not crib about the tie, says Dhoni

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni took the result of the fourth One-day International against England, which ended in a tie here today, in his stride.

Rain forced the match between the two sides to end in a dramatic tie under the Duckworth-Lewis method, allowing the hosts to clinch the five—match ODI series by taking an unassailable 2-0 lead, but Dhoni did not seem too upset.

“I will not crib about the tie. Today when the ball got wet, we had enough resources. We know (Suresh) Raina has fair amount of firepower and if he gets going, can destroy any attack in the world. We have not won anything. It has been a long tour, we have one more game, we will give it our best,” Dhoni said after the match.

As for Ravindra Jadeja, Dhoni said, “Jadeja is doing his job brilliantly. In conditions like these, it is hard for the part-timers.”

Jadeja conceded 60 runs for a wicket from nine overs and also made a wild overthrow in the 40th over of the innings, which helped England in scoring 15 scoring runs.

England captain Alastair Cook though the tie was a “fair” result.

“It was touch and go towards the end, we ended up batting for D/L, being more defensive knocking off the singles, not sure when the rain was coming. Tie was a fair result. Great to see (Ravi) Bopara delivering on the big stage to get us a tie,” Cook said.

Bopara scored 96 to bring England within sniffing distance of a victory, and Cook was, understandably, appreciative of his batsman’s effort.

“We tried everything earlier but that partnership (between Dhoni and Raina) was fantastic. If we had kept them to 250, we could have got there comfortably. Possibly we missed Dernbach. We will know on (Stuart) Broad in 48 hours,” Cook said.

Raina, who struck a blazing 84 off 75 balls, said, the plan was to hit the balls in his zone.

“I was batting well but not getting big scores. My game plan is simple, when I get the ball in my areas, I play my game. Disappointing for Ravi to not have got the 100,” Raina said.

More than missing out on a well-deserved century, Bopara was disappointed with the way his side had to clinch the series.

“Not an ideal way to clinch the series, with the rain around, we did not know when to accelerate. Should I knock it for ones and twos, or go for the big shots, once (Graeme) Swann got out I thought we should really go for it towards the close. (The) last couple of games have been nice for me, (but still a) long way to go ahead,” Bopara said.

England Tour Of India Dhoni Comments

No place for negative thoughts, says Dhoni

AP WHAT WENT WRONG? India captain M.S. Dhoni has a lot on his mind after losing the third Test to England. Photo: AP

 

M.S. Dhoni, who lost his first Test series as India captain, conceded his team had been outplayed in all departments, but stressed the importance of not giving in to negative, self-defeating thoughts in the aftermath.

“Our batting just didn't click, we haven't put enough runs on the board,” he said after the conclusion of the third Test in Edgbaston, a day ahead of schedule.

“I can't really pinpoint the reasons why we didn't bat well. If it was that easy, we would have corrected it. The pressure kept mounting, and England played very well. We had to be at our best to defeat them. We needed all departments to click together. But we never managed it.”

Part of life

Addressing his first series defeat, Dhoni said, “You can't play at this level for three years and win every time. In a team sport, everybody needs to play well or more often than not you'll end up losing. It's only once in 10 or 15 series that individual brilliance can save (the day). But losing is a big part of life. It's what makes life interesting.”

The India captain said it was vital for India to enjoy the fourth Test, treating it as a one-match series. “Things like this have happened to the Indian team in the past. I know it becomes difficult but you have to enjoy the game. You shouldn't think too critically or think too much about technique.

“Of course you need to make certain technical adjustments, but it's important to be yourself and slightly tune your game to the conditions, like Formula One cars are tuned to various tracks.”

Dhoni refused to comment on India's lack of preparation before the Test series, saying he didn't wish to create a controversy.

Asked about his feelings after losing the No. 1 spot, he said: “We don't think about it too much, we know that when we do the small things well, the rankings will take care of themselves. It's not something you own; it's something you earn. It's a constant process.”

Andrew Strauss, the English captain, was understandably delighted with his team's performance in the Test and the series.

“The wickets have been shared around the bowlers and the pressure they have applied has been relentless, I don't think there are many better in the world right now,” said Strauss.

“It was fantastic to get runs myself and then sit on the sofa and watch Cookie (Alastair Cook) bat for two days.

“He has amazing concentration and determination, he's in this patch at the moment where he's very clear what his game is and he's an example for us all.

“Getting to No. 1 has been a goal for a long time and it fills me with a lot of pride to know we have completed something very special.

“We have had to work very had and the guys have put a lot of hard graft to get to No. 1.”