India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said playing two spinners was definitely an option for his side in its final Group B game against the West Indies.
Speaking to the media here on Saturday, Dhoni expected the surface to assist the spinners. The Indian captain also said reverse swing could be a factor.
About Sachin Tendulkar being on the threshold of his 100th international century, Dhoni said, “There is much to learn from how he analyses the conditions and plays his innings accordingly. If you are short of ideas, he is always there with an option. He has been playing international cricket for 21 years and every game is a milestone.”
Dhoni agreed that the Indians have disappointed in the batting Power Plays. “You do not have to manufacture shots. I think if we score around 40 runs in that period, we would have done well. Teams, generally, have their best bowlers operating between the 46th and 50th overs. So, it makes sense to take the batting Power Play between the 41st and 45th.”
Significantly, Dhoni said, “Good teams do not repeat their mistakes.” The West Indies captain, Darren Sammy, said, “We came here to qualify for the knockout stage. We have done well so far.”
Disappointed
He was disappointed, though, that his side failed to close out the match against England. “If you get an opportunity, you have to grab it. We failed to do that against England.”
Sammy said his team respected India and had plans for major threats, including Tendulkar. On facing the Indian spinners, he said, “We have some powerful players who can play spin.”
