Press Trust of India
Mirpur, June 22: India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni stated here Sunday that he was ready to relinquish captaincy if it would benefit the side. Talking to reporters at the post-match press conference after India’s first ODI series loss to hosts Bangladesh, Dhoni stated that the success of the team mattered to him the most.
“I am always the one who is responsible for anything bad that happens in Indian cricket,” Dhoni stated. “If you say that Indian cricket will become very good, if I am removed from captaincy, then I am ready to step away. I would just like to contribute to the team cause as a player because I am enjoying my cricket,” he added.
The Indian skipper also stated that it would be better if the coach’s position remains ‘vacant’ for some more time rather than thrusting someone into the position.
The coach’s position has been a hot topic of discussion post Duncan Fletcher’s exit after the World Cup and Dhoni insisted that the Zimbabwean’s contribution has been invaluable to Indian cricket.
“At least indirectly you are saying you are missing Duncan (Fletcher),” Dhoni shot back when asked about the team’s losses in relation to the coach’s job lying vacant. “I felt he was one guy who was never really appreciated in spite of doing all the hard work.
“If you are indirectly hinting that we need a coach and all that, we have enough people in the support staff to take care of us. And even if the position of the coach is vacant for some time, it is okay. Don’t put just anybody there for the sake of it. Then it will have a bad impact in the long run,” Dhoni added.
In spite of India being outplayed in virtually every department in the first two ODIs against Bangladesh, skipper Dhoni defended the squad members.
“This is the best lot of players we have,” Dhoni asserted. “We have to back them. Sometimes they will come good and sometimes they won’t. But then in cricket you don’t win all the time.”
Dhoni made a valiant 47 promoting himself up the order at No. 4. He hinted that he may bat at that position only henceforth.
“The whole idea was for me to go up and play more freely. The last four-five years, I have batted at No. 6 and there is always some kind of pressure. I wanted to get set and build up the tempo, I want to do that now on a regular basis and that is why I went up the order,” the Indian skipper pointed out.
