World of Timepass

It would be a mistake to believe that India will enjoy an upper hand against the West Indies in the ODI series just because the Caribbean side has lost the Test series, Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. India had won the series 2-0, but Dhoni said it was not an easy task to get that scoreline and the ODI format may actually suit the West Indies cricketers. “The West Indies are a good team. You may say that the Test matches got over on the third day itself and it was easy, but it was not. There were situations where we were under pressure and then we had to build a partnership. It was not an easy series as the scorecards suggest,” Dhoni said at the pre-match press conference. “It is important that we take the match with a right frame of mind and not thinking about whether the opposition played well or not.”
Most of the matches in the ODI series against Australia were high score affairs. Asked if similar scores could be expected in the three-match series, the Indian skipper said it could not be predicted at this stage. “It all depends on how the wicket here is going to behave. Before the start, it is not easy to say what will be the good score to win a match. We will see how the wicket behaves and then we plan and may be 260 or 280 could be a good score if it becomes flat. If the dew factor comes into play, then an average of 230 or 240 could be an ideal score.” Dhoni said his players have worked hard on bowling in the death overs, and hoped that the results will show on the field gradually. “They are putting in a lot of effort and we have seen a lot of improvement in that front. I am hoping that they come out well after the effort they are putting in,” he said. Dhoni said there was no fixed slot for any batsman in the team and the batting order maybe changed according to the situation, but emphasised that number four slot was crucial. “Number four is the platform where you consolidate the innings. It is a very huge slot and who will bat at four or five you will have to wait and watch. We do not give anyone a slot that you will bat at number four or five or so on. It all depends on the number of overs available. “If a good partnership is going and they bat for 30 or 32 overs, then we shuffle our batting order. It depends on the situation,” he said. Talking about Yuvraj Singh’s comeback, Dhoni said,”The conditions will be tough. You know it is very humid out there. So, I think it is very important that he enjoys the game without thinking about our performance in the Test series. One has to be in a good frame of mind.” Asked if he had a team from the current lot of players in mind for the next World Cup, he said, “As of now, we have to get a pool of bowlers. That is what we are doing. Most of them have done well at the domestic levels and they have also played in few international matches and done well. But we have to see them in few more games to see as to how they bowl and then we will have a fair idea as to what needs to be done. “We are trying to give the present lot chances and of course there are priority and at the same time you are looking at winning the ODI series. It is a slow process and it is good if they are able to get their chances in the middle and see how they handle pressure,” the skipper added. Asked If the Indian team was under pressure to win ODIs against the West Indies after an emotional series and before embarking for South Africa tour, Dhoni said there was nothing new when it comes to pressure. “You are talking about emotions but we will have to see which was difficult. Whenever an Indian team plays whichever the opposition, we play irrespective of where we are playing. We are always set to be under pressure and we always are set in a situation where it is difficult to win a series. It is another series for us after having won the Test series.”

Jacques Kallis has been among Sachin Tendulkar’s biggest competitors for more than a decade, yet they are good friends. The South Africa all-rounder, who is seven short of Sachin’s 51 Test centuries, shares his feelings on Sachin’s retirement and his personal targets with TOI.

Excerpts:

Having seen Sachin Tendulkar from close quarters, how does it feel to see a friend leave the game?

Sachin has had a great and long innings in the game. But I suppose this is part of life, unfortunately. We will miss him a lot. Honestly speaking, it will feel quite strange playing against India at home without Sachin.

But then, in the last few months, Dhoni’s men have done remarkably well. Will Sachin’s absence affect India in South Africa?

That’s true, but one of the many things that Sachin brought to the setup was experience of playing in the South African conditions. In his absence, India would certainly miss that.

Sachin has a huge fan following in South Africa too. Do you think that the series will lose out on the glamour factor this time?

I am sure that Sachin will be the first one to say that the game is always bigger than any individual. I firmly believe that the game will continue to be glamorous with new gladiators in the ring.

What’s your prediction about the upcoming series?

I’m sure it will be a great series between two good sides. India played here last in 2010 and I’m looking forward to the series again and I can assure you a great clash.

Most of your contemporaries have hung up their boots. Are you also mulling retirement?

No. I will continue as long as I am enjoying myself and as long as I’m helping the team win matches.

You are seven short of Tendulkar’s 51 Test tons. Will that be on your mind when you take on India next month?

This is not on my mind and let me tell you it’s certainly not something what drives me.

Tendulkar has been criticized for poor form, and you too have gone through a similar phase. Herschelle Gibbs slammed your ‘picky policy’. Do you think the superstars need a little more respect?

I understand that there is no way that a cricketer can go on forever and there comes a time when he needs to retire. Hopefully, I have played the game well and have conducted my life that deserves respect. Talking about Mr Gibbs’ ‘picky policy’, I have met South Africa coach Russel Domingo and the Proteas management committee to plan about the future and we have mutually agreed to a playing schedule all up to the World Cup. Maybe, Mr Gibbs should be a little more concerned about his own career than interfering in something he knows nothing about.

As a friend, where would you like to see Tendulkar five years down the line?

I hope Sachin spends many happy years with his family and enjoys watching the great game that we all love.

Out-of-favour India opener Gautam Gambhir is still hopeful of a national comeback and will only call time on his career once he gets the feeling of being out of place in international cricket.

With Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma being certainties for opening slot in ODIs and Murali Vijay doing reasonably well in Tests, Gambhir’s career as of now has hit a roadblock as he fights to at least get into the squad as the third opener in national team’s tour to South Africa.

“As long as the belief is still there, I can play international cricket, I will continue to play. But the moment I feel I can’t play international cricket anymore, I will retire,” Gambhir said at a promotional event.

For Gambhir, who has enjoyed so much success with the Indian team, it is difficult to find himself outside the hallowed dressing room. But left-handed opener insisted that he doesn’t play cricket to make comebacks.

“I always said that I don’t play cricket to make comebacks. I play cricket because I enjoy the game. The word comeback is not in my dictionary,” said the Delhi captain, who was presented with a special edition KTM 390 Duke sports bike.

“As a cricketer, I give my best for the team’s success. I am a player first who needs to be honest with the team. As a player, the aim should be to go out there and do the job to the best of your ability and win matches for your team,” he said.

Asked how hopeful he was of making it to the Indian team for the upcoming South Africa tour going by his present form, Gambhir said: “It’s you (media) who say I am out of form if I don’t score run in one innings.

“But I don’t judge myself on every innings. I judge myself on how relaxed I am at the wicket and how much I am enjoying myself there,” he said.

Gambhir also refrained from talking about any individual players of the current Indian team.

“I never like talking about individuals because cricket is a team sport. I don’t believe in commenting about individuals,” he said.

Gambhir also brushed aside the chances of a possible drop down the order, just like his former India and Delhi teammate Virender Sehwag, to regain his lost touch.

“I am an opening batsman and I believe in opening the batting. I think it is the toughest job to open the innings on hostile foreign wickets. I don’t believe in going down,” he said.

He said for a cricketer every tour holds equal significance and South Africa is no different.

Gambhir also defended their decision to shift Delhi first Ranji Trophy home match against Haryana, starting tomorrow, to the Roshanara Club ground from the Feroze Shah Kotla, saying it was taken in the best interest of the team.

“I admit we didn’t play well in the first two games so we have less points. The match was shifted because we wanted to play on a result-oriented wicket. It is always important to play according to your strength and Roshanara pitch is according to our strength,” said Gambhir, who is also the captain of Delhi.

The much-anticipated Ashes series between England and Australia starts tomorrow at Brisbane and Gambhir has put his money on the visitors.

“England are very good, balanced Test side. Australia will have to play our of their skin to win the Ashes,” he said.