Kolkata: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that the lack of a genuine all-rounder is a concern and the team need to find someone like Ravindra Jadeja who has been rested for the two-match Test series against the West Indies due to a shoulder strain.
India will begin Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell series in international cricket with the first Test beginning here on Wednesday.
The absence of Jadeja has tilted the balance of the side.
“It has been a bit of a concern. I’ve always said that we need good seam bowler or a frontline spinner who can bat a bit. At times you don’t realise the importance of a particular player. People criticise so much.
“Now that we don’t have Jadeja we are thinking whether to have a fifth bowler or maybe another spinner who can bat a bit. Is it that the batting will become thin,” Dhoni told reporters at the pre-match press conference.
The skipper said there are not enough options at the moment.
India are in a quandary over the bowling line-up and they are not sure whether to play with a five-men attack or give in-form Rohit Sharma the Test cap while using him as a part-time offspinner.
Asked whether Ajinkya Rahane or Rohit Sharma would get the No 6 spot, the skipper said: “Well the thing is whether we want to go with four bowlers or have a fifth to the attack, or someone who can bowl a bit if needed. That’s one major decision. Though the decision is one, it’s divided into three different aspects.
Dhoni said the team was trying to focus on the cricket despite the frenzy around Tendulkar’s farewell series.
He said the team was trying to keep distractions to minimum.
“It’s something that was expected. It’s always good to know such things in advance so that you can mentally prepare well. We have tried best to keep ourselves away from distractions and focus on cricket. So far so good. Once the game starts, I don’t think the team is entertaining anyone. I think we are sorted,” Dhoni told reporters at the pre-match press conference.
Dhoni said nothing has changed, neither the preparation nor the mind-set, ever since the senior most cricketer announced his retirement from the international arena.
“As far as the last few days are concerned, it looked absolutely normal how we played the ODI series or the last series. The dressing room atmosphere is exactly the same. In a way, the guys have done well to maintain the atmosphere.
Meanwhile, West Indies skipper Darren Sammy said that the series will be a tough one.
“We have respect for India. When you look at their recent one-day series (against Australia that India won 3-2) their batsmen have been in good nick. No one wicket is the prized wicket. Everybody in the top six minus Vijay has been playing really good and has been in good form. It would be a tough battle for our bowlers,” said Sammy at the pre-match press conference.
Sammy, however, said he was hoping that the Indian batsmen commit mistakes.
“They have been playing a lot of one-day cricket. They have been on the go. So hopefully their batsmen will come out playing a lot of shots and we will get some edges down at slip or some lbws or some bowled outs. (PTI)