MIRPUR: It’s been six months since Mahendra Singh Dhoni quit Test cricket but the manner in which he used to approach the shorter format “would not change” as his philosophy is to adapt as per the demands of the situation.
Questioned if his approach has changed at all, Dhoni responded in negative.
“No, it will be quite the same because what’s important is for the team to win. And we will have to see what kind of roles and responsibilities suit the individuals playing in the XI, and accordingly, we will decide. Being adaptive and constantly looking to improve is something that’s important at the international level,” Dhoni said today at the pre-match press conference on the eve of the first ODI against Bangladesh, here tomorrow.
“The regime is still the same. As I said it’s the demand of the game. Its not about me but as to what the team demands from me and what the situation is when I go into bat. So it will still be the same. It also depends on where I am batting.
If I am batting at 5 and 6, the demands are very different compared to if I am batting at 3 and 4,” Dhoni said.
Recently Dhoni trained at Delhi’s National Stadium for a day under local coach M P Singh.
“Let us not make it complex. It’s a small thing that keeps on going. It’s a lot to talk about but it’s very basic and very simple. You can have your own idea,” the skipper said.
While the target is to win the series but Dhoni also stressed on the importance to switch off during rain-breaks as it can hamper the momentum.
“Our target first and foremost is to win the series by taking one game at a time. That is something that makes our job slightly easy. Because there is also chance of rain, so it is important to remain focused.
“If we gather some kind of momentum, it’s important that we switch off at the right time with the rain break. And once the time comes for us to switch on, we should be able to do that and try to get as many runs as possible.”
Asked if he has followed Bangladesh’s performance during their 3-0 series win against Pakistan recently, Dhoni sounded a bit dismissive.
“Frankly it’s very difficult for us to watch any other nation playing because we play throughout the year. Yes, I have said “thank you” to one of the formats but still the amount of cricket that has happened it’s very difficult to follow any other series. As far as videos are concerned, we have the luxury of video analyst. More than that I can’t really comment on it,” said Dhoni.
Dhoni said that Bangladesh can do even better provided they have good first-class teams providing a supply line of players.
“It’s more important to have a good first-class team and I feel the upcoming players in Bangladesh, most of them have done well whenever they have got an opportunity to play.
That’s definitely good for them because to have a bigger pool of players is something that’s important so that if a few of your top players get injured because of the amount of cricket they are playing, somebody is replaced.”
Dhoni also did not divulge anything about playing XI.
“We will see whatever the best XI is. Not start new season. It’s closing towards end of last season. One more series after this. Then officially, you can say it’s off-season. Then a new season starts after that.”
The skipper praised the Bangladesh ODI side.
“They are a very good ODI team. Also if you see they have been playing ODI cricket for a long time. And also with their T20 coming in, it gives the guys more exposure and at the same time it gives them the right kind of calculative power as to when they can take the risk and when its important to back off.
“I have always felt they had a very good ODI side. They have shown improvement when it comes to Test cricket but obviously its played over 5 days, couple of innings each so you have to play bit more consistent cricket. As time progresses you will see them improving.” Dhoni also made it clear that the core of this team will be going into the 2017 Champions Trophy in England as well as the 2019 World Cup in Old Blighty.
“If you look at the top four or five batsmen, it seems that if they are fit and are in decently good form, they are the ones who may go into the next World Cup or the Champions Trophy. But maybe, we need to improve is the bottom three, maybe after the first four. 5,6 & 7 and particularly 7 because they are very crucial.
“The reason being more of often that the No 7 batsman for you, 90 percent of the time he has to bowl you 10 overs. So we are still looking (at an all-rounder). Last one and a half years, I don’t think our bottom order has got a lot of opportunity to bat specially in the subcontinent,” the skipper added.
“The top-order has done a remarkable job because of which 5,6 & 7 haven’t had many opportunities to bat. It becomes a bit difficult, the reason being if somebody is batting at 7, if he goes in one game where we are 5 or 6 down and he has to score that 50-60 runs. You get an opportunity like that maybe in 10-15 games.”
While there was liberal praise for Bangladesh crowd who throng in large numbers at the stadiums to the support the ‘Tigers’, Dhoni was not particularly amused about the traffic problems as the city moves at slow pace.
“The people here love their cricket. They come to support their team, they enjoy their cricket and I feel that’s something very important for an international side if you have people of your country loving your sport coming to back you in the stadium. It just pushes you to do even better, give in more than 100 percent.
“Yes, the traffic has gone worse from what it was but other than that the people are nice. It’s a good place, provide the traffic.” –PTI
