Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

'Bangladesh loss tough but no point having knee-jerk reactions'

June 22, 2015 23:00 IST

The Indian team ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Photograph: Getty Images

Former captain Sunil Gavaskar has advised against knee-jerk reactions and said the decision should be left to Dhoni. 

Asked if it is beneficial for Indian cricket to still have Dhoni as the ODI skipper, Gavaskar said: "Yes, I think it is beneficial for Indian cricket to have him as captain. He still has a lot to contribute. 

"Yes, the results against Bangladesh has been unfortunate but let's give some credit to Bangladesh as well. They played some superb cricket. Bangladesh got a new bowler and Indian batting had no answers to his (Mustafizur Rahman) left-handed angled deliveries, which he produced in the first two ODIs.

"I understand losing to Bangladesh is difficult to swallow but let us not get into knee-jerk reactions."

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar. Photograph: Getty Images

Going through a rough patch, Dhoni also had an on-field collision with Bangladesh's new pace sensation Rahman during the first ODI, which cost him 75 per cent of his match fee. 

Asked if he observed any change of demeanour in Dhoni, Gavaskar said: "No, not exactly. He seemed fine. He is just 33 years old, may be at 35 or 36 he might want to play just as a player because as a captain you have additional responsibility, you are thinking about everyone in the team and that can be a burden at 36 but not now.

"I think he still has a lot to offer." 

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.