25 March 2024 last updated at 19:12 GMT
 
It’s not about revenge: Dhoni
Saturday 15 October 2011

India began the five-match ODI series against England on an emphatic note by thrashing the visitors by 126 runs. But skipper MS Dhoni is not ready to see it as a revenge for the defeat in the series in England last month.

"For us, it is not about revenge. Revenge is a strong feeling, it is a strong word. What is important for us is to go out on the field and perform well," he revealed.

"It is important to win the games because if you are not winning too many games, (it is) a bit of a problem in the sense you can't enjoy to the extent you do when you are winning. Winning and losing is part and parcel of the game. The losing streak was a bit too long," he said.

Dhoni feels the conditions were in favour of the bowlers as there was no dew.

"If you see the ODIs in England, all the players did very well. Because of rains, it was difficult for our spinners to bowl consistently. We did well in the second half of the England series. Today there was no dew. If the conditions are slightly in their favour, the bowlers can make us win games."

The Indian captain, however, said the timing of the series was wrong as one can't be sure of dew.

"If you are close to November or December, you know there will be dew and blindly you will opt to field after winning the toss so that bowlers get an upper hand. It is a bit tricky. It was good that in this game there was no dew. Spinners gripped the ball well, they bowled the right length. Fast bowlers got a bit of reverse swing also; outfield was very dry and the wicket was also dry."

Dhoni, who was unbeaten on 87, termed his innings as "precious".

"It was a valuable inning like quite a few others I have played in my short career. It was a very calculated inning. Quite a few shots that I played, I generally don't play those shots. I have changed my game and adapted to number six position."

The Indian skipper said he was practising in the nets to go over the top and over the covers. "At times it pays off. It was a precious inning."

Dhoni said since the bowling department was new, it was time to groom the youngsters so that they should be able to perform not only in India and abroad.

"It's a grooming period we are going through. We have few bowlers who are new to the scenario. I feel as a unit they have done very well in this game." he concluded.

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