Won't run away from responsibility: MS Dhoni

December 10, 2012

Doni


Kolkata, December 10: Good news! Team India, down in the dumps after losing back-to-back Tests in their backyard, have identified their flaws. But, then, there is nothing new in their job description from here that they didn't know at the start of the four-Test series.

Asked if this was the lowest phase for the team, and also for him as the skipper, Dhoni responded, "I think the England and Australia series, because we were not able to compete. We know what the faults are over here and we should be able to rectify those."

He put the blame squarely on the batsmen.

"The batsmen will have to take up the responsibility. It was a very good wicket to bat on here. Of course their bowlers will send down a few good deliveries that we need to keep out, but most of us in the top seven will have to score at the same time. If you don't score runs in the first innings and the opponents score, you will find yourself under pressure," he said.

"Batsmen have to make sure if they get a start, they make it big."

On the bowling, he said "overall, they are doing well" before going on to be more specific.

"The spinners have done a good job, a bit more contribution from the fast bowlers would really help the side," he said. "Their (England's) spinners looked to bowl in one area, play with the patience of the batsman. If we can be a bit more patient and can bat for a few long sessions, their bowlers will get tired and there'll be more opportunity to score."

Defending coach Duncan Fletcher, Dhoni reminded that 'once you cross the rope, you're on your own'. "That's when you have to perform, that's where we're lacking now. Ultimately, it's about the 11 players who turn up on the field."


Is he still the best person to lead India? "The selectors are here to decide," was the curt reply.

When someone asked how difficult it would be to pick themselves up and try to level the series, the skipper was more forthcoming.


"As a leader, this is a challenge that has been thrown towards me. It's always good to lead a side when everybody is doing well, that's when you don't need a leader," he remarked after saying that "experience will count" when it came to picking themselves up after the two defeats.

"Leading a side is all about leading when the team is not doing well. You try to gel the team together, back the youngsters, back the senior guys, and try to move in the right direction... The easiest thing for me to say right now is, 'I quit captaincy' and be a part of the side. But that's like running away from responsibility. Of course, there are others like the BCCI officials who will want to look into that but my responsibility is to get the team together and be prepared for the next Test match."

He conceded that the transition from the 'Fab Four' era is proving a difficult task.

"The reason is that the experienced guys who were part of the side when the legends were around will feel they have to do exceptionally well even as the youngsters want to perform to be permanent members of the side. It's a situation where everybody is feeling a bit of pressure. We will have to get rid of this and back each other well. But, then, as an individual you have to back yourself really well. Self-belief is very important."

Does he expect a turning track for the final Test in Nagpur? "From here we really don't know what's there in Nagpur, but we've played on wickets in Nagpur that turned and those that didn't."

Well left, skipper!



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Agencies
January 5,2020

Mumbai, Jan 5: India captain Virat Kohli has refrained from making any comments on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), without gaining full knowledge on the sensitive subject.

The CAA will grant Indian nationality to people belonging to minority communities -- Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians -- in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after six years of residence in India instead of 12, even if they don't possess any proper document.

In 2016, Kohli had termed demonetisation as the "greatest move in history of Indian politics", which met with sharp criticism from a lot of quarters, with people questioning his knowledge on the subject.

With Guwahati witnessing massive protests against the CAA till some days back, Kohli was asked about it and the Indian skipper weighed his words carefully.

"On the issue, I do not want to be irresponsible and speak on something that has, you know, radical opinions both sides. I need to have total information, total knowledge of what it means and what is going on and then be responsible to give my opinion on it," Kohli said ahead of India's first T20 International against Sri Lanka.

The skipper made it clear that he will not like to get embroiled in a controversy by commenting on a subject that he is not well aware of.

"Because you can say one thing and then someone can say another thing. So, I would not like to get involved in something that I don't have total knowledge of and it's not going to be responsible on my part to comment on it." However Kohli on his part was happy with the security arrangements and felt that the city is "absolutely safe".

"The city is absolutely safe. We didn't see any problems on the roads," Kohli said, giving his thumbs-up for the match at the Barsapara Stadium.

The Assam Cricket Association is using this match as a "curtain-raiser" ahead of their maiden IPL match this season as Rajasthan Royals have adopted this venue.

There has been deployment of Rapid Action Force for the teams and ACA secretary Devajit Saikia has said the spectators will not even be allowed to bring along handkerchiefs and towels on the match-day as the traditional Assamese scarf was used for protests against CAA.

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Agencies
June 4,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 4: Indian men's hockey team defender Harmanpreet Singh is delighted and honoured to be nominated for the Arjuna Award by Hockey India.

The Indian women's hockey team captain Rani Rampal has been nominated for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award while her compatriots Vandana Katariya, Monika and Harmanpreet Singh have been nominated for the Arjuna Award.

"I was extremely delighted to hear the news. It's an honour to be nominated for the Arjuna Award and I am sure the nomination will motivate me to perform even better in the upcoming years. All of us have received tremendous support from Hockey India over the years and I was extremely happy to know that Rani has been nominated for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Vandana Katariya and Monika have been nominated for the Arjuna Award. They have put up some brilliant performances in the recent past and I would like to extend my congratulations to them," Harmanpreet said.

The 24-year-old dragflick sensation stepped up his role in the team and shouldered the responsibility of vice-captain with aplomb. As a defender-dragflicker, he was instrumental in the team's winning performance in the FIH Series Finals in Odisha. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Test Event, he captained the team to victory in the absence of Manpreet Singh who was rested for the tournament.

Harmanpreet was also part of the Indian team that won the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers against Russia last year. Harmanpreet said that he has been able to perform for the team only because of the support he has received from his teammates.

"I am very happy with the way I have been contributing to the team in the last couple of years. However, I have been able to come up with the goods only because of the way my teammates have supported me. Hockey is a team sport and all of us ensure that we are contributing to the team's cause in some way or the other. If we score a goal, then it's not only the goal scorer, who takes the credit, but the entire team is credited for a particular effort," said the defender.

Harmanpreet added that booking a place in the Tokyo Olympic Games was the biggest achievement for the team in 2019.

"It was simply amazing to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in front of our home crowd last year. I will cherish the memory forever. The balance of our side was fantastic and everyone chipped in to make the tournament a memorable one. Now, we will give everything we can to come up with great results at the Olympics next year. It's our sole target at the moment and all of us are up for the challenge. Hopefully, we will become a much better side once we play our first match in Tokyo," he said.

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News Network
February 3,2020

New Delhi, Feb 3: Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar feels there are a lot of similarities between the Virat Kohli-led Team India and the Pakistan team when Imran Khan had led it as both captains instill strong self-belief in their respective teams.

Manjrekar also said that Pakistan under Imran had found different ways of winning matches even when it seemed all was lost.

"India under Virat in NZ reminds me of Pakistan under Imran. Strong self belief as a team. Pakistan under Imran found different ways of winning matches, often from losing positions. That only happens when the self belief is strong," Manjrekar tweeted.

The cricketer turned commentator expressed his opinion after India completed a rare 5-0 whitewash with a seven-run victory over New Zealand in the final T20 International in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.

Manjrekar also lauded KL Rahul, now also shouldering wicket-keeping duty, for his impressive showing in recent times.

"Samson & Pant... the next batting brigade of India obviously have the skill & the power game they just need to infuse a small dose of Virat's batting 'smarts' (mind) into their game," Manjrekar wrote.

The victory at the Bay Oval saw India stretch their record for most successive T20I wins.

This was their eighth win in a row, bettering the previous three instances when they won seven successive matches.

Kohli is the most successful Test captain in Indian cricket history, winning 11 consecutive series at home and are on top of the ICC rankings.

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