He will be missed in dressing room: Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni felt that the void left by Rahul Dravid was too huge to fill.

Giving his first reaction after his former captain announced his retirement in Bangalore on Friday, the Indian captain said there can’t be another Dravid, who was a total team-man. “Over 13,000 runs in Tests, over 10,000 in ODIs, I mean, what more can you expect from a cricketer who played for 16 years?” remarked Dhoni on Saturday after the team arrived here for the Asia Cup beginning on Sunday.

“There cannot be another Rahul Dravid. He did everything he was asked to – opening, wicket-keeping – and he will be missed in the dressing room,” he noted. While hoping that some youngster will step forward to take the Bangalorean’s place, Dhoni cautioned against comparisions with Dravid. “Let us not put any pressure on any youngster, who might step in.”

Though Dhoni admitted that Virender Sehwag will be missed in the four-nation tournament, he hoped to make most of the familiar sub-continental conditions after a tough outing in Australia. “In these conditions, we believe that we can do well. Sehwag has such a telling effect on the bowlers and he will be missed but his absence also gives an opportunity for players like Yusuf Pathan and Ravindra Jadeja, who come lower down the order, to get a longer opportunity,” Dhoni pointed out.