Sport | Cricket
Dhoni can make us think 'like a captain'
Spinner Harbhajan Singh has stepped forward praising his Mahendra Singh's style.
- By K.R. Nayar, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:03 August 30, 2009
- Image Credit: Reuters
- Dhoni is willing to listen to anyone and gets the best out of them, says Harbhajan Singh.
Dubai: At a time when Indian team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is facing flak from all quarters, off spinner Harbhajan Singh has stepped forward praising his captain's style of functioning.
During a promotional event for NEO Sports Television in Mumbai, Singh said: "Dhoni is a captain who can make us think like a captain. He encourages us constantly to think like a captain."
Singh left immediately after the function for the Indian team's training camp in Bangalore for the oncoming Tri series and Champions Trophy.
Praising Dhoni's approach towards his teammates, Singh said: "Dhoni is willing to listen to anyone and gets the best out of them. He is even keen to listen to a newcomer. His biggest advantage is his ability to keep his cool even in times of crisis."
Singh has 330 Test wickets to his name and is now India's leading spin bowler following the retirement of Anil Kumble.
Singh also wants the Board of Control for Cricket in India to organise more Test matches. "I wish we play at least 12 to 15 Test matches every year. We are playing a lot of Twenty20 and one-dayers, but I would love to play more Tests. Every cricketer will tell you that Test cricket is the real thing. However, every format of the game has its own charm."
According to Singh, the only way to generate interest in Test cricket is by creating a marketing buzz. He endorsed Sachin Tendulkar's suggestion to open the gates free for school children.
"The Test matches should also be scheduled in such a way that the last two days of the match falls on a week end," Singh, who has also taken 210 wickets in one-day matches, said.
"We will soon be playing against Australia in a One-day series [in October-November] and I hope we can beat them. Australia has long been on top and now other teams have beaten them. We have done well against them over the last four years."
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