Unfair to axe a player on basis of one-two performances: Dhoni

Despite some dismal performances by a few players, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today came out strongly in their support, saying that frequent changes might hamper the team in the long run.

"It will be unfair that all of a sudden when you lose one or two matches and you want playing eleven bowler to be removed and thrown out of the team by saying he is not good," said Dhoni at the post-match press conference here last night.

"It's very important to persist with them, to give them experience because they are the part of the side. They are the most talented people and let's back them," he added.

Dhoni defended his decision to entrust struggling pacer Ishant Sharma to bowl the 48th over, which yielded 30 runs to hand the third ODI to Australia from a winning position.

"If you see the performances, then you may need to change the whole team. There are some batsmen who have not made runs, there are some bowlers who have gone for runs.
"If you compare bowlers of the two sides and you feel they (Australians) are better and quick, even they have gone for runs," the skipper pointed out.

Dhoni made it clear that with regard to the team selection he will speak only to the selectors and not at a press conference.

The 32-year-old Dhoni said that the new bowlers waiting in the wings can wait a bit longer.
"It is often seen that once somebody goes out of the side, tendency is that he is forgotten and people talk about the new bowler. I always feel that people who are in the side should be given the rope, doesn't matter if he is a bowler or a batsman.  Once he goes out of the side, the new guy who comes in you again, the principle should be applied.

"Otherwise if you start having (demanding) 'yeah hona chaiyee who hona chahiye, phir mushkil ho jaata hain' (there is a clamour this should be done or that should be done and later on it becomes difficult). I think this is one principle that works the best for all the players," he explained.