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Dhoni sympathises with bowlers after hammering by Aus batsmen
In the backdrop of more than 300 runs being scored on an average in an innings in the ongoing seven-match ODI series against Australia, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Wednesday it was becoming difficult to determine a good bowling performance.
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"I honestly don't know what's a good performance now by a bowler -- 80 runs in 10 overs or 60 in 10 -- because of the rule changes (one extra fielder inside the 30-yard circle)," said Dhoni.
"The bowlers are facing a huge challenge, but as you have seen over the years they adapt faster to the rules than the batsmen," he said.
“The wickets are flat and there is not much of turn or reverse swing," he added.
Dhoni defended the ploy of fielding three spinners in the game, by including Amit Mishra in the eleven.
"This ground is big and batsmen have to go over the top of fielders to get boundaries which gives spinners a chance to get them out. Our spinners bowled well in spells," he said.
He also supported Suresh Raina who flopped once again at his new number four position and said he needs to be given more time to cement this spot.
"He has always batted at no. 5 or 6 where one tends to play instinctive shots. It's a new position for him. He needs to be given more opportunities," said Dhoni.
'If you have a target on board it's always easy to analyse how many runs you need'
The Indian cricket team's batting mainstay Virat Kohli said that he finds chasing targets more comfortable as one knows the task at hand, while adding he enjoys batting under lights.
"I like batting under lights as I have said before, and if you have a target on board its always easy to analyse how many runs you need and how to go about it," Kohli said.
Kohli was awarded the Man of the Match for his splendid unbeaten 115 off just 66 balls which took the Indian side home in a difficult run chase of 351.
On his sensational batting effort, Kohli said that he backed himself while taking on Australia's strike bowler Mitchell Johnson in the latter part of the innings.
"When Mitch (Mitchell Johnson) came back on to have a bowl, it helped to have MS (Dhoni) at the other end. He told me that we had wickets and we need to go after him. I then went after him and it was all a calculated risk. I had confidence in my ability and backed myself," he said.
'We complement each other really well, both on and off the field'
India openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma put on a century stand to set up a perfect platform for their side in a stiff run chase, and Sharma said they complement each other well and hoped to continue their impressive partnership.
"We complement each other really well (Dhawan and him), both on and off the field. It’s coming off really well and giving a good start was really important. I am glad that both of us are managing to do it. This is just the start and we need to keep doing this. And we hope it’s the start of a good opening partnership for the both of us," said Sharma.
The duo put on 178 runs in 29.3 overs for the opening wicket to help India chase down the target. Dhawan said they started cautiously as the wicket was a bit slow and the plan, in the initial overs, was to rotate the strike as much as possible.
"We batted really well. It was a big target. Wicket was a bit slow today but we stayed at the wicket and we kept rotating the strike and getting boundaries. I just wanted to keep the wickets in our hands and get a good run rate and play our shots and not play any different shots, so that’s what we did," Dhawan said.