Dhoni praises West Indies
India captain ecstatic after win in first Test as tourists lead series 1-0.
KINGSTON:
India captain MS Dhoni gave West Indies’ team a boost after their 63-run first Test defeat by suggesting they could push the visitors in the remainder of the series.
India successfully defended a victory target of 326 to dismiss West Indies for 262 in their second-innings on the fourth day at Sabina Park.
However, Dhoni said West Indies had a side that was India’s equal in talent, if not in their ability to seize the crucial moments.
“I will not make the mistake by saying that this opposition is not good enough,” he said.
“Every batsman can score runs. Their first seven batters have the talent which equally matches the one of the current Indian team.”
West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo also received words of encouragement from the World Cup and Indian Premier League winning captain.
Some observers felt that Bishoo had bowled better than the Indian pair of Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra, picking up seven wickets in the match.
“Bishoo kept bowling in the right areas,” said Dhoni. “There was a fair degree of turn in the first-innings, but as the game progressed, that turn was not there.
Dhoni reserved special praise to some of the players that played crucial roles in his side’s victory other than man-of-the-match Rahul Dravid and Test newcomer Praveen Kumar.
Meanwhile, West Indies captain Darren Sammy was disappointed.
“I do not think there are too many differences between the teams, but it’s about us finding that way to capitalise on the key moments in the match.”
The final Test between the two sides starts on Wednesday, July 6 at Windsor Park in Dominica.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2011.
India captain MS Dhoni gave West Indies’ team a boost after their 63-run first Test defeat by suggesting they could push the visitors in the remainder of the series.
India successfully defended a victory target of 326 to dismiss West Indies for 262 in their second-innings on the fourth day at Sabina Park.
However, Dhoni said West Indies had a side that was India’s equal in talent, if not in their ability to seize the crucial moments.
“I will not make the mistake by saying that this opposition is not good enough,” he said.
“Every batsman can score runs. Their first seven batters have the talent which equally matches the one of the current Indian team.”
West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo also received words of encouragement from the World Cup and Indian Premier League winning captain.
Some observers felt that Bishoo had bowled better than the Indian pair of Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra, picking up seven wickets in the match.
“Bishoo kept bowling in the right areas,” said Dhoni. “There was a fair degree of turn in the first-innings, but as the game progressed, that turn was not there.
Dhoni reserved special praise to some of the players that played crucial roles in his side’s victory other than man-of-the-match Rahul Dravid and Test newcomer Praveen Kumar.
Meanwhile, West Indies captain Darren Sammy was disappointed.
“I do not think there are too many differences between the teams, but it’s about us finding that way to capitalise on the key moments in the match.”
The final Test between the two sides starts on Wednesday, July 6 at Windsor Park in Dominica.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2011.