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Dhoni pleased to see youngsters making their performances count

As India scored yet another dominating victory over England to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni hailed the youngsters of the side for making their performances count.

India thrashed England by eight-wickets with 80 balls tao spare in New Delhi on Monday.

- Scorecard | Images

"Youngsters are doing very well in One-dayers. It is always good to win games and good to see youngsters stepping up and coming up with good performances," Dhoni said.

He picked Kohli, who scored an unbeaten 112 of 98 balls, for special praise and also acknowledged the crucial knock played by Gautam Gambhir (84 not out) as the two put up a match-winning 209-run stand for the third wicket.

'Virat has improved as a cricketer'

"Virat is batting very well and has improved as a cricketer. It is always beneficial for the youngsters to come at the top of the order so that they get the time to settle down and then convert the fifties into hundreds. Eventually, he will learn to change his innings a bit and improve further as a cricketer.

"One can't forget Gambhir. He batted extremely well. Batting at number three, he faced the English bowlers well and, along with Virat, got some kind of a partnership going, which was very important. Their partnership was brilliant," he said.

'We have surely improved as a chasing unit'

Asked to compare the team's performance in England, where India could not win a single match in all three formats of the game, Dhoni said that it was the "wet ball that made all the difference".

"There is no particular reason why we are doing well but I think in England it was hard to grip the wet ball and I think that made the difference."

Dhoni felt India have become better as a chasing unit.

"Even when the scores are higher we have surely improved as a chasing unit. We have improved overall as a team."

'Strategies sometimes click and sometimes don't'

The 30-year-old Dhoni said coach Duncan Fletcher's inputs have been valuable.

"In England, he did not do anything too differently. But when the team doesn't do well all these questions arise. His inputs were valuable there also. Plans and strategies sometimes click and sometimes don't.

"Here the conditions are different and every team has to adapt to the different condition. So more than the team strategies it is up to the individuals to do the things right and play right kind of a game. A lot depend on players also," the wicketkeeper-batsman said.

'Wickets here are difficult for stroke-play'

"Whenever England have come to India, more often than not our bowlers have done well. Wickets here are different and it is difficult for the stroke-players. Once the openers are out, it puts pressure on middle and lower middle order."

Talking about pacer Umesh Yadav, Dhoni said that he is impressive, but only time will tell how much would he be able to sustain.

"Umesh is very quick as far as Indian pacers are concerned. But he is prone to injuries so I feel it is very important how we manage him and get him stronger.

'Virat's action is a bit compicated'

"Sometimes speed is not everything, you have to bring in variations also. But more games he plays, more he will improve as a pacer. Only time will if he can sustain," Dhoni felt.

Dhoni also felt that Kohli can contribute well with his bowling due to his different action.