Man management, the Dhoni way

Dhoni lauded the attitude and character of the young players, saying they had adapted well in the Indian dressing room. “The way the guys conducted themselves on and off the field was a big positive. And I think they are learning a lot out of these games. At the end of the day, it’s a big plus for Indian cricket,” Dhoni said.

Dhoni said that the secret to man management lay in realising the difference in each character.

“Every character is different in his own way, and that’s what we respect in this side. We don’t want anyone to change in a big way. If you are going to be in the team for a long time, we need to accept each and every individual the way they are. In the team bus, the timings, the activities and everything, they have been superb,” remarked Dhoni.

Informal chats

So, as a captain how does he guide them? “I conduct some informal chats with them. I don’t believe in calling someone and having a big chat because that puts a lot of pressure. If somebody is doing something or doing fielding practice, then a little chit-chat always helps.”

Zaheer Khan has slipped into the role of bowling captain quite easily, and Dhoni said his absence has forced him to take up the job.

“It’s added responsibility for me. Ishant has played a lot of Test matches and he’s got ideas as to what to he needs to do. Along with Praveen Kumar, it’s an ideal combination because one is swinging the ball, and the other is a back-of-the-length bowler. Hopefully, they continue to do well in this match,” he said.