Mahendra Singh Dhoni made a plea for having pitches that aid turn from the first day while terming the third Test as a ‘good game of cricket.'
“I want wickets that turn from the very first day because that sets a bit of panic within the opposition dressing room and of course at the same time you are under pressure to perform and that makes it interesting.
“I am hoping that we stick to our kind of wickets that turn from the first day so that the toss doesn't become very important,” Dhoni said.
Not joking
The Indian skipper's ruminations about the pitch were triggered by queries on the manner in which the West Indies collapsed in its second innings on the final day. “Frankly I really don't know what happened. It started to turn in the morning. Till yesterday everything was fine and it was among the flattest of wickets and I am seriously saying this and not joking.
“Something happened in the morning and it started to turn. Most of us thought it will be a draw but it turned into a close game,” Dhoni said.
Dhoni praised R. Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha and Virat Kohli for their fine performance in the Test but cautioned that the youngsters should be spared from the pressure of expectations. “Let Ashwin take his wickets. If he scores runs that is a bonus. Don't put pressure on him.
“The next time, Kohli is in a similar situation, he may bat in a different way.
“There is no point in putting pressure on the spinners and think about whether they will be able to get as many as wickets as Anil Kumble or Harbhajan Singh. Overall I am very happy with the way Ashwin and Ojha bowled,” Dhoni said.
Sammy praises bowlers
Dhoni's counterpart Darren Sammy was critical of his team's second innings batting display but at the same time, the West Indies skipper lauded his bowlers for stretching the match in to a tight finish.
“Some of the shots we played were not called for and we paid the price. All sorts of things were going through my mind towards the end.
“At one point, the tied Test came to my mind and I was telling Kirk Edwards, ‘win or draw, we can't lose this.'
“The way we batted (in the first innings), it would have been heartbreaking to lose the game.
“Our bowlers did a good job and I had to stay away from bowling because of a hamstring problem,” Sammy said.
