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'Promoting Dhoni a team decision'
Sourav Ganguly on Tuesday admitted that his poor batting form had prompted the team to promote the young keeper-batsman to the number three position.
Indian captain Sourav Ganguly on Tuesday admitted that his poor batting form had prompted the team management to promote young wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni to the number three position, a gamble which paid dividends for the team in the second one-dayer against Pakistan.
Dhoni slammed his maiden century with a rollicking 148 which played a big part in India's 58-run victory against the arch-rivals.
"Promoting Dhoni was a team thought. Looking at the wicket in the morning we thought it would crumble in the later stages and we wanted to utilise the first 15 overs", Ganguly said after India took a 2-0 lead in the six-match series.
"Since Dhoni can hit the ball hard and I would have taken some time to settle since I am not batting well we decided to send him up the order."
However, the pitch stood the test of time and played well for the entire 100 overs.
Ganguly also conceded that Pakistan gave them a run for their money but said his team kept picking up wickets at regular intervals to maintain the upper hand.
"Yes it was a close one. But chasing 357 on any wicket, anywhere, is not easy. And we kept on picking wickets which kept us in control," he said.
The Indian captain acknowledged that the wicket was very good for batting and said it hardly helped the bowlers even when they were bowling in the rough.
On extensive travelling during the series, Ganguly felt it was a part and parcel of any one-day itinerary and said they were looking for an additional day's rest before the Jamshedpur match.
Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq said his team put up a brave effort and had they been able to keep a few wickets in hand to bat for entire 50 overs, the end result could have been different.
