“If you see everything, the injuries, the fitness, the form and all, we have quite a few things to worry about,” said Dhoni when asked if it was his toughest assignment ever. “I can say it’s among the most difficult tours.
“It’s of course difficult to exactly recall what it was like in New Zealand, South Africa or Australia. The closest that you have faced you remember the most, but you expect that at this level,” said Dhoni, who also has had to endure poor form.
Dhoni didn’t rule out playing four pacemen at Edgbaston, which is sporting a green pitch. “The wickets so far haven’t assisted spinners. So it pushes us to think if we can play four fast bowlers. There is a problem with slow over-rate. But that doesn’t bother us, what’s important is we select the eleven suited to the track and do well,” remarked Dhoni.
If Dhoni indeed decides to field a four-pronged pace attack, then Munaf Patel will join S Sreesanth, Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar. Zaheer Khan’s replacement RP Singh is yet to join the squad.
Dhoni termed Virender Sehwag as a dynamic player. Sehwag is sure to open the innings with Gautan Gambhir in the third Test. “He has been practising everyday which means he is available for selection. I see no good in him not playing. He is a very dynamic player. He backs his instincts to play shots irrespective of which bowler he is facing. He looks at the ball and gives it the treatment it deserves. He is an aggressive opener who has a big impact on opposition bowlers. He is a very good batsman to have in the side,” Dhoni observed.
Dhoni also rued India’s inability to press home the advantage in the first two matches.
“We were in a position where we could dominate in both the games. If we get into a similar situation, it’s important we go ahead and put further pressure on their batting, which is quite deep. It’s important how we bowl between overs 45 and 80,” he pointed out.
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