Dhoni defends out-of-form Gambhir, Ashwin

[CG]

ndia captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Sunday defended out-of-form Gautam Gambhir and Ravichandran Ashwin, but did admit that the former was going through a Ã…Ãean patch and the latter was trying to use ÅÕoo many variations? źeah, he (Gambhir) has been going through a lean patch but he is an experienced player. I believe he has batted a bit better in the last few games. Unlike some of the earlier matches, he didnÃÕ look tentative and was a lot more decisive about stroke-making, Dhoni said at the post-match media conference in Dharamsala. Ū believe he is improving and donÃÕ forget he is an amazing player of spin bowling. Ideally, we want him to bat till the 35-40th over, said Dhoni defending the Delhi left-hander, who has now scored only 156 runs in his last eight ODIs. Similarly when asked about a sudden slump in off-spinner AshwinÃÔ form, Dhoni reasoned, Å®ay be he was using variations a bit too much but he has now realised his mistake. In the last couple of matches, he has been more consistent about length. He has not used too many variations and was trying to bowl to one line. Å£ut then you also need a perfect mix as variation has been AshwinÃÔ strength. The new ODI rules, with five fielders inside the circle, has also made it slightly difficult. He was all praise for pacer Ishant Sharma, who has been pretty impressive in this series. Ūshant bowled really well and in right areas. One needs to understand that he is playing ODI after a long time. The skipper is also impressed with the effort of young new ball bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shami Ahmed, but is certainly in no mood not to throw the youngsters into Test cricket right now. Å´horter format will give them (Bhuvneshwar and Shami) more exposure. ŵest cricket is entirely different and if you look at someone like Bhuvneshwar, he can be effective in specific conditions. To play him in Tests, you need to have a look at the conditions. Like if we are playing in England, New Zealand or South Africa where the ball swings and seams, he can be considered but on sub-continental tracks he would need to alter the length which he bowls, Dhoni explained. Å¢s far as Shami is concerned, he is someone who can bowl quick and can reverse the ball but he also needs to improve. Ravindra Jadeja finally came good, putting up consistent performance in the series and the skipper feels that it augurs well for Indian cricket. Å«adeja doing well gives us more options. His performance is important for the team as we have been struggling for bowling all-rounders as we only have Irfan (Pathan ), Dhoni said. Å«adeja has shown a lot of improvement in batting. But one must understand that coming in at No 7, he wonÃÕ get us too many runs. But if Jadeja and Irfan are both available, then we have option of trying out different combinations, he added. Asked about any plans earmarked for 2015 World Cup, Dhoni was non-committal. ŪtÃÔ a long long way to go and you never know what comes up. If today you are saying that experiment of opening with Rohit has worked, had we lost the series, it would have been termed as one of the reasons for our defeat, he said. On SundayÃÔ fifth and final ODI which India lost by seven wickets today, Dhoni did admit that toss became a crucial factor. Ūt was a bad toss to lose. Initially, in places like Dharamsala or Guwahati where you have an early start, the ball does a bit initially. But this is a good exposure for the younger batsman about how to play when the ball is seaming and swinging. The wicket eased out during the second half and it became easier for batting, he said.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/dhoni-defends-outofform-gambhir-ashwin/article4350811.ece

[rudradhar]

Gambhir is really a good batsman, 1 or 2 series cannot say that the batsman is out-of-form. Every batsmen cannot play in every inning.

[Tendulkar_Bhai]

Gambhir is really a good batsman' date=' 1 or 2 series cannot say that the batsman is out-of-form. Every batsmen cannot play in every inning.[/quote'] You mean 1/2 yrs? In ODI's he has had the odd 50+ but has only averaged 35-40, in tests he has been useless home and away. Anything short and wide he has a prod at and edges to slip, he can only play when the ball is slow and to his pads.

[SLICKR392]

Can you include the source?

[SLICKR392]

Gambhir is really a good batsman' date=' 1 or 2 series cannot say that the batsman is out-of-form. Every batsmen cannot play in every inning.[/quote'] 1 or 2 series? It's been almost 3 long years since he scored a ton in Test.

[NareshK]

Gambhir should have been rested after Aussie series and made to play in FC. Just because one is out of form, doesnt mean he should play international cricket till he gets back into form and cost the team. He failed pretty much in all the chances given to him, except 2 or 3 fifties in lost causes over last 3 years. Its not just about not scoring runs. He has looked clueless as an opener against good pace bowlers and never looked close to getting comfortable.

[Trichromatic]

1 or 2 series? It's been almost 3 long years since he scored a ton in Test.

More than 3 years, 26 tests and 10 series

[asterix]

I scratch your back, you scratch mine...

[Karan114]

Gambhir is really a good batsman' date=' 1 or 2 series cannot say that the batsman is out-of-form. Every batsmen cannot play in every inning.[/quote'] Dude has been failing in Tests for the last 3 years. In no other country would a serial failure like Gautam Gambhir keep getting such strong backing. His commitment to playing India was also shown when he played on in the tamasha league through injury, causing him to miss a Test series for India. Still, he's hardly alone in that and Dhoni, who once skipped a Test series after playing the tamasha league isn't going to mind that.

[Sean Bradley]

Failed Captain Backing Failed Opener = Failed Team. :mad:

[King Khan]

tbh I'm sick on commenting on Gambu. Dissapointment is too high for fan pov.

[Vivek.S.123]

Gambhir has been failing in every format this year :facepalm:

[adi B]

I scratch your back' date=' you scratch mine...[/quote'] this..just replace scratch with "have " :secret:

[CSK Fan]

2 new Rhiti sports contracts must be on the way

[Dumbbells]

He seems to be out of form and looks very shaky after he got hit on his head and had concussion in England. This is where we miss a coach like Gary kirsten. He said, he used to talk with Gambhir often to give him confidence as Gambhir seems emotional at times and loses confidence.

[Lord]

what about Sehwag?he is also an experienced player,no?:P

[cricketpitch]

You mean 1/2 yrs? In ODI's he has had the odd 50+ but has only averaged 35-40, in tests he has been useless home and away. Anything short and wide he has a prod at and edges to slip, he can only play when the ball is slow and to his pads.

You are being too generous. Gambhir since 2011 has only averaged 31.4 with the bat in tests with 0 hundreds and 7 fifties.

[saneindian]

2 new Rhiti sports contracts must be on the way

Just Gambhir will not do. World Sports Group better transfer their other bigger superstar to Rhiti as well, else.....

[vamos_rafa]

So a captain defending out of form players is also a conspiracy these days. :facepalm: What should he do, criticize them openly?

[Crookbond]

So a captain defending out of form players is also a conspiracy these days. :facepalm: What should he do, criticize them openly?

I think he was taken to task when he did that but Sehwag was let off for doing the same (I believe on the same player - Sreesanth).