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Home , Axar Patel, Batting (cricket), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Fielding (cricket), Matthew Hayden, Ravindra Jadeja

MUMBAI, sport SUNDAY 08l03l2015 II defendersThe great Let’s back Team to conquer the world once again

CUP TALES HAYDOS VIEW

On Virat ‘Right thing about Indian Kohli Even though they ( bowlers) straight at him, when you get the ball into that uncertain zone some six stumps outside off team is Dhoni’s persistence’ , he still chases those. But he got away with it on Friday Australian great tells Derek Abraham that credit must be given to Indian skipper for backing under-performers like Jadeja and Raina all the way through

Four matches, four wins. How do with him for so many years. He is back unless there is an injury con- A word on Kohli’s aggression… A kid watches the SA- you look at India’s chances, espe- such a good player, such a talented cern? No, I don’t think so. All India If I were — and in a lot of game on Saturday —Getty Images cially after the manner in which player, but he continues to struggle need are some little tweaks in their ways I was — I’d say to him that ag- they have turned things around? against the short stuff. The West In- game plans. To me, their personnel gression is great. I want to see that It’s amazing, isn’t it? It’s quite an dies exploited that. remain the same. I know I am going a battle. I want to see that every day of achievement by MS Dhoni and his little hard at them. But that’s because the week. Long may that continue. Raina gets MSD’s players. I think it’s got to do with the Dhoni spoke of ’s I know they can play better. They are All he has to be in control of is that On presence of a lot of calm heads in problems with the short ball. looking pretty good, but they have got ball bowled six stumps outside off backing at No. 5 that dressing room, especially with Even didn’t look it in them to go further. and whether he is going to leave that Shikhar MS Dhoni feels that a big deal is the media going very hard at their comfortable… Look at Dhawan. His consistency alone or not. The rest is going to take Dhawan made out of Suresh Raina’s position. You can’t keep losing games That’s true what MS said. I like Raina in the latter stage of the tournament care of itself. I like Virat because of susceptibility to short-pitched of , like they did for two-and- and I want to see him do well. Every- is going to be so very important for his technique and the way he plays He has got to fi nd and stressed that the UP a-half months. But now, they have one knows that. There is a natural the side. If he doesn’t fi re, then all his game. It is what it is. It’s brilliant. that combination of lad is the best bet to bat at No.5 won four in a row. I am stistillll not bias there (because of of a sudden, the other guys will be It’s just the way he plays. I like it. It being able to back since vacated that convinced about India’sndia’s SuperSuper Kings connection). under pressure. He is to India what suits him. It helps the team. off (balls bowled) slot. “It’s the media that makes a bowling attack. Theyhey BuButt he has to fi nd a way is to the Australian outside that off big deal of this. Batsmen from have bowled admirably,y, (t(to sort out his techni- team. He has got to fi nd that combi- You are great mates with Ravi stump and choose other countries also get out to the the right balls to but as this tourna- ccal problems). He has nation of being able to back off (de- Shastri. How much of an impact short-pitched deliveries but it is play his shots something that is put only on our ment wears on, and to use his talent and liveries bowled) outside that off has he had on this team? head -- he (Raina) is the one who when the pressure is head to play a role stump and choose the right balls to A lot. Ravi is a great asset because On Rohit gets out to the short ball, bowl really on, that’s where he can maxim- play his shots. He has got to fi nd a not only does he know cricket, he short to him. I think he is where they are going ise his returns against way to occupy the . That’s knows media. And in international Sharma well,” Dhoni said. “Yuvraj Singh to be tested. This tour-- sslower medium pace something he is capable of doing on cricket, you do battle the media as must be the only player who did nament has been drift-ft- bobowlers. And he has to his own terms. much as you battle with the other He consistently gets consistently well for us and then ing on for a month aandnd wweatherea the storm, like A lot of sides, and India are no dif- teams. So he will understand what is out to balls bowled he got promoted to bat at No 4. there hasn’t been too muchmuch wwee all hhave to, when it comes ferent, can’t think of getting 360 all required. And he will put a cricket outside the off Raina is the best that we have got quality cricket on display. The to short-pitched bowling. He gets the time. It’s already got spin on it. He has a great cricket head stump. He has to fi nd a balance between and we need to back him. Because Australia- game wasn’t into a rabbit--in-the-headlights into a lot of trouble (against New Zea- and he is a great strategist. trying to play the ball if you don’t back him, the new guy great cricket. Last night (Friday), In- scenario sometimes. But he shouldn’t. land). Too many batsmen are just [email protected] and leave the ball who comes, he will be like, let me dia got the job done but they were He just needs to relax and get going looking to blaze away. That’s not bat for myself and that’s not a shaky against the West Indies. by playing his natural game. smart cricket. And India will have to good habit to grow. We don’t play a lot of it to win the World Cup. want that to happen in our team.” India have bowled out the opposi- Do you think the problem is with tion in each of their four games. his mindset? What are Indians susceptible to? Waqar walks out Do you still believe bowling is The right thing about this side is MS They are susceptible to their own their weak link? Dhoni’s persistence. Had a lot of shot selection outside off stump. of presser Less than three weeks ago, I would these players been playing for Aus- Look at Kohli, for example. If I see Barely an hour after their win have said yes. But I also think that tralia, for example, they would have one more bowler bowl on his legs, I , Pakistan were credit is due when it’s due. I thought gone. Look at . He is an think I am going to go nuts. He is embroiled in a controversy with India would have to be set a total like extremely talented cricketer. He has brilliant off his legs. He has got a coach Waqar Younis storming out 380. Such is their batting strength. gone out of the side. I don’t think we strike-rate of 277 off his legs. So what of the press conference. Waqar But it seems like the longer they have would nurse players for so long. I do I see time and time again? lost his cool when a journalist been playing here, the more they think we must give credit to MS for The bowlers give it asked if there was politics have become accustomed to our wick- involved in not playing Sarfraz ets. Yes, they will have to make some Ahmed in earlier games and that adjustments now in New the coach should take the blame Zealand, but they have for it. “There are 15 boys and it’s already qualified (for the best XI who have been the quarters), so they playing. The best XI played today can relax. Actually, their also. There is no politics involved. You are the one giving it a political bowling is now in a position twist,” Waqar said. “Why should I where it’s starting to hit their making his boys feel comfortable. take the blame? After all, Nasir straps. He backs them all the way through. On Suresh Raina Jamshed is also part of the team,” So they have got to reward him with to him on his legs. These he said. An irritated-looking The batsmen didn’t have it easy at good performances. Again, there has guys get paid millions of dol- We saw him get exposed with the Waqar was then asked for his the WACA on Friday… got to be a point where you say ‘OK, lars. If they can’t bowl a ball short ball again. I have played with reaction of an alleged bust-up Look, I have been part of so many here’s what you have to do. Here’s six stumps outside off stump, him for so many years. He is such inside the dressing room between chases. And I can tell you 180 is a what your level of achievement is.’ and can’t do it six times in a a good player but he continues to him and Ahmed, and at that point difficult total. What do you do? Do And as the games get bigger, the mis- row, I’ll go jump off a cliff. It’s struggle against the short stuff Waqar chose to abruptly end the you go hard at the bowlers? Do you takes aren’t going to get covered up. not that hard. Now, Australia presser and stormed out of the change your plans? When you change The competition is going to get better. are going to do that. India must room. “It’s time to end the press your game, you get vulnerable. But I The focus of the sides will get better. use the next two games to work on I am still not conference. I don’t have time to also think the big, tall West Indies Their plans and the of those their vulnerability. So just play convinced answer your stupid questions,” boys bowled with some good pace. plans are going to get more potent. within your plans. about Waqar said before making an exit. That’s why the usual suspects like So, everyone sort of steps up. struggled. Virat Dhoni has fi nally come good with India’s bowling Zim fume over Kohli, even though they bowled India play Ireland and Zimbabwe the bat… attack. They have straight at him yesterday (Friday), in New Zealand. Is this the time to He is an individual who is also a bowled Mooney catch when you get the ball into that uncer- experiment by bringing in, say, an smart cricketer. And last (Friday) admirably, but as Zimbabwe tain zone some six stumps outside off or ? night was good example of that. MS this tournament insisted his team had been victims stump, he still chases those. But he Well, I don’t think so. I believe Ravin- knows how to win a game. His per- of a World Cup miscarriage of got away with it last night. The vul- dra Jadeja and R Ashwin are the play- centage wins while batting second, wears on, and justice when Ireland fielder John nerability is still there. ers to go with. However, they have got especially at the back-end of the when the Mooney held a crucial catch consistently gets out to balls bowled to get better as the tournament pro- match, is just phenomenal. I know pressure is really despite indications he had outside the off stump. He has to fi nd gresses. The batting line-up has got to there will be a time when MS is really on, that’s where touched the with his a balance between trying to play the fi re. But the good things is India know tested. And I know he will come out foot. With Zimbabwe needing 32, ball and leave the ball. And we also what they have got to do. This is the on top because he has that winning they are going to Sean Williams, on 96, launched a saw Suresh Raina get exposed with side India have got to settle on. Do I habit of chasing down runs. be tested huge hook off Kevin O’Brien the short ball again. I have played see coming towards deep midwicket where Mooney reached high to grab the ball. But he appeared to slightly touch the boundary cushion with his foot. “You’ve got to take his We must give credit to MS for making his boys feel (Mooney’s) word for it. They comfortable. He backs them all the way through. So zoomed in, and I thought it was they have got to reward him with good performances pretty clear. But you’ve got to take the fielder’s word,” Taylor said. Ravindra Jadeja — a genuine all-rounder or a reluctant batsman? Perth: If Ravindra Jadeja were to pieces all-rounders. But this is the ence, Dhoni put his point across. know how to bat. He’s definitely when he has to think as to he’ll play wanted was someone to stay there. commission a survey, he would re- World Cup. And the team can’t do He had every reason to. When you talented, but he needs to keep be- his big shot or he has to rotate R Ashwin did so admirably. alise that a lot of people grudge with also-rans. Not with the knock- are batting with a guy regarded as lieving in himself. They will bowl where he can play the big shots and Former Indian skipper Bishen him. Talented with the bat, smart outs around the corner. the best fi nisher in the game, you short-pitched deliveries to him. He all of that,” he said. Singh Bedi is furious with Jadeja’s with the ball, superb on the At the WACA on Friday, In- have no business to mess things up. will have to fi nd a way in which he To be fair, Jadeja bats as low as approach. “He is not living up to field, lucky chap, captain’s dia’s star-studded batting The runs weren’t a factor. Nor was can tackle it because every bats- No. 7. In every other scorecard, his potential at all. He needs a kick friend, multi-millionaire, line-up got its fi rst big scare run-rate. What mattered was the man tackles it in a different way,” you’ll see ‘DNB’ against his name. on the back side. He is in the side rockstar — he is all of that of the tournament. A tricky number of in hand. And, the skipper added. But that’s the nature of the game. as a bloody all-rounder. But he bats and more. target of 183, a fi red-up bunch of course, common sense and char- The tactician in Dhoni also You have got to make it count like a nincompoop. Why do they But for all those triple tons of pacers, fl oodlights, pace, acter. Jadeja failed on those counts. spoke of, perhaps, using the Sau- whenever the opportunity presents send him in at No. 7? Ashwin and scored on shirtfronts swing, bounce, pressure “No, I think he needs to im- rashtra player as a pinch-hitter. itself. Walking in at the fall of Shami bat better than him. Jadeja back home, he continues — there was everything prove,” Dhoni said. “He needs to “Or the second option will be we Suresh Raina — another regular looks like a No. 11. So send him in to be a reluctant batsman Derek Abraham a batsman dreads. As the step up really because we have a lot try to give him a platform where he offender — Jadeja scratched at No. 11. That’s the only way to on the international top and middle order of faith in him but, at the end of the doesn’t have to worry about that. around for half an hour before fall- send your message across,” Bedi stage. In 115 ODIs since made heavy weather of day, you can’t really play with hope. He goes and freely plays his big ing, well, to a short-pitched ball on told dna on Saturday. “He and that 2009, he averages just 32. at World Cup an easy target, the onus What you want is actually perfor- shots because where he’ll find it Friday. He made 13 off 21 balls. He Suresh Raina take too much for More often than not, his was on MS Dhoni to take mance on the fi eld. He has that ca- difficult is if he goes in slightly could have been on nought off 50. granted. Are they piggy-riding (the smart bowling and electric fi elding the side home. And he did. pability. You don’t get three triple Ravindra Jadeja’s form with the bat is early, if he goes in close to the 30- It wouldn’t have mattered. Dhoni skipper)? You have got to pull up gets him the nod of other bits-and- At the post-match press confer- hundreds in India just because you a concern for MS Dhoni —Reuters over mark, then that’s the time would have got the job done. All he your socks up,” Bedi fumed.