M.S. Dhoni refused to pin the blame on his top-order batsmen after Pakistan accomplished a six-wicket victory over India in the first of three ODIs, here on Sunday.
“It was a bad toss to lose. There was plenty for the bowlers initially and the Pakistanis bowled really well. It’s easy to get tempted and bowl short on this wicket but they pitched it up in the right areas. It was difficult to bat initially with the early morning moisture. The wicket got better as the match progressed.”
The Indian captain rated his man-of-the-match winning century as a good innings. “It’s not like I have plenty of hundreds to choose from [it was his first ODI ton since January 2010],” he said.
With this innings, did he feel like he was giving it back to his critics who had treated him like a punching bag? “It’s good if I am the punching bag. Sachin [Tendulkar] was one for a very long time. I’m happy to take some of the pressure off my teammates.”
On why the likes of Rohit Sharma or Virender Sehwag were preferred to Ajinkya, Dhoni came up with a typically vague response.
“That’s a difficult one considering Sehwag has been picked especially for the ODI series. Jinks (Rahane) will get his chances. We have had two batsmen opening consistently for us.”
When asked about Gautam Gambhir’s indifferent form, Dhoni merely shrugged it off with a smile. He also clarified that he wasn’t aware of the injury status of Virat Kohli, who slipped in his bowling run-up and was off the field.
Morale-booster
Later, Misbah-ul-Haq said winning the first game of a series was a morale-booster. The Pakistan skipper, while lauding Nasir Jamshed for his unbeaten hundred, didn’t overlook other critical contributions.
“Junaid (Khan) is a genuine seam bowler and he satisfied our expectations. Younis Khan used his experience at a time when we were struggling to score. Credit should also go to Azhar Ali who played out the first 10 overs, which were crucial. Of course, Jamshed is a very good talent and has a long way to go.”
Misbah added that he wasn’t too perturbed by the man-of-the-match award going to Dhoni. “It’s the Jury’s decision. And Dhoni’s innings was fantastic,” he said gracefully.
Stressing on the need to keep working hard, Misbah admitted that Pakistan’s fielding and PowerPlay bowling needed improvement.
Rule changes
Both Dhoni and Misbah clearly stated that the new rules (which entailed having a maximum of four fielders, a reduction from the earlier five, outside the circle during non-PowerPlay overs) were hard on the bowlers. But they had a different take on who would likely suffer the most. Even as Dhoni said it was most difficult for the spinners, his opposite number felt the pacemen were the ones to suffer. Queried if international captains needed to be consulted before such changes were made, Misbah said: “I think they should.”
Though Pakistan won comfortably the 1st ODI
but brothers in India look at our woes: We have a skipper who plays
one dayers as if he is playing a Test. He is so unimaginative that he
let Dhoni (almost) run away with the match. Also when when he gets out
we heave a sigh of relief knowing that the run rate would improve by
the next incoming batsman. He is a dampener un-like Dhoni who always
leads by example and makes even a small target formidable for the
opponents. Also Junaid did to Indian batsmen what B. Kumar (an
intelligent bowler) had done to Pakistani ones in the second T20
without much height and pace. India is relying too much on batsmen and
less on bowlers. Let there be equilibrium. Waiting with baited breath
for the second encounter on the 3rd Jan. Lets enjoy the game.
Great performance Dhoni, sad to see the same such loosing the wickets one by one.I feel each and every batsman should go with his own winning strategy with minor understanding with the co-batsmen.
I WISH OUR TEAM INDIA A VERY HAPPY AND WINNING YEAR 2013...and many such years to come...
Yes players who are not performing consistantly are given chance.There are dozens of talented players are awaiting for a chance.Dhoni's performance is outstanding.Where are seam bowlers ? 120 cr ppl in india but not even one talented bowler ?Why BCCI adopt capable bowlers from their childhood itself?
This comment of Dhoni shows why he stands head and shoulders above many of his contemporaries as far as leading the team is concerned. He has brought a new dimension to the captaincy with his unflappable, situation specific and unconventional responses (shades of Sthithaprajna lakshana here). It is tough being the captain of the Indian cricket team which floats on the aspirations of a billion strong fanbase; especially when that games goes beyond being a mere game to occupying a significant portion of our emotional hemispheres.I feel that Dhoni has done the best he could have done under these circumstances. Fans have a right to feel disappointed when the team under-performs but should refrain from baying for blood...or the captain's head at the drop of a head.
That's the mature captain for you. You can't image Sehwags and Gambhirs to come up to Dhoni's level..never ever!
Why is Dhoni giving so many chances to Rohit Sharma, Why not try Ambati Rayadu also Rahane..
Mohan
I agree that Dhoni played well in this specific match, but that doesnt take away from the fact that the country has been losing non-stop for a long long time now. Retaining him as a captain would set a really bad precedent for the future. Hence in the interests of accountability him must be sacked impromto.
Time and again its said stick to the wicket, have patience and runs will follow. Dhoni
showing his mettle has proved it again. It was such a good innings with full of
character. Well deserved Man of the match.
it was a very good knock but youngsters like Kohli and Rohi should take
the responsibility of scoring more runs.
When the first five batsmen collapse like a pack of cards, it was
difficult for the captain to make good the total and the valiant
effort of an unbeaten century by Dhoni deserves praise and rightly
so won the manof the match award. Every player owes a responsi-
bility to score at least two digit runs particularly in an one
day match. The conditions were not conducive for both the teams
Our weakness in bowling has to be plugged without which we
start blaming one and all for the failure. Despite knowing the
weakness in bowling strength and unintelligent methodology
being adopted bysome of the fast bowlers, it will always
remain a guessing game in the present day cricket. Let us hope
for a stragetical move by the Indian team in the remaining two
one day matches.
Great Innings from Dhoni showed true character. Its high time people
like Ghambir, Rhoit Sharma are dropped so that we could have talented
and deserving youngsters in the team.
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