MS Dhoni - The most successful captain of India

[vanchi]

Mahendra Singham Dhoni became the first Indian captain to register a success rate of 100 per cent against Australia, winning all four.

Dhoni's success of 66.66 per cent is the best amongst Indian captains with at least 10 Tests -- won 12, lost two and drawn 4, out of 18 played.

India have recorded series wins six times under Dhoni's captaincy

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2602 runs + 150 dismissals in 48 Tests) is now the second Indian wicketkeeper to complete the double of 2500 runs and 150 dismissals

[VinodKumar's]

Ivan perai sonanthum perumai sonnathum kadalum kadalum kai thattum

ivan ulagam thaandiya uyaram kondathai nilavu nilavu thalai muttum

Intha Mahendran enbavam padaipin ucham

[vanchi]

The crowd was our 12th man in Bangalore' - Dhoni

MS Dhoni has asked for Tests to be played at venues that have a history of supporting Test cricket with big attendances while appreciating the support received from the Bangalore crowd during the course of India's series win. Of India's 10 Test venues - Hyderabad being the newest - Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Mohali and to an extent Delhi are known for their lukewarm response to Test cricket.

"Maybe some of these centres where people come up to see Test matches can be given preference over some other centres where people don't come in large numbers to watch Test matches," Dhoni said. "After all, if taken in the right sense, we are the performers in the circus, but you need the circus to be full. It [this comment] should be taken in the right sense."

Dhoni and his men liked what they saw in Bangalore. Three of the days - the weekend and the final day - were almost sold out. "It really helps the players who are on the field," Dhoni said. "Frankly speaking, in the 45th or 50th over, when the fast bowler comes for his second or third spell, it's the crowd that gets him going, apart from the fact that he is supposed to do well for the team and the country. You need some kind of a motivation, and especially because we're used to playing IPL and ODIs in front of 30000 or 40000 or 50000 people, you want that kind of a crowd."

Throughout the last five days, the spectators have been India's 12th man. They cheered every special effort by the Indians, appealed when the bowler appealed, got off their seats when Sachin Tendulkar and other batsmen played good strokes, and appreciated every good effort by the fielders. Some of them booed the Australians, but many were appreciative.

"It was a remarkable crowd," Dhoni said. "Throughout the five days there were good crowds, and on the final day it was literally house full. You could see as many people in the stands as in a T20 or ODI match. They supported good cricket more than anything else."

They did get their money's worth. Not only did they watch their home side complete a clean sweep against Australia, they saw Tendulkar go level with Virender Sehwag as the Indian with the most double-centuries; they saw Cheteshwar Pujara, the debutant, play an innings he wouldn't mind as his epitaph; they saw M Vijay, a stylish batsman, add substance to his game at Test level; they saw Ricky Ponting bat beautifully but fall disappointingly short; they saw Zaheer Khan and Ben Hilfenhaus create wickets on flat pitches. The Indian team thanked the crowd with a deserved lap of the ground.[/tscii]

[vanchi]

India need to groom more bowlers: Dhoni

BANGALORE: Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday lauded his bowling unit for playing a pivotal role in India's 2-0 series win over Australia, but said India need to groom more bowlers, especially pacers, since performing consistently was not easy in international cricket.

India have rested key bowlers like paceman Zaheer Khan and spinner Harbhajan Singh for the upcoming One-day series. Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma are also not part of the squad since they are nursing injuries.

"I am not playing with key players since we need to give them rest. We need to groom bowlers. We have four or five good fast bowlers and three spinners who have been consistently performing.

"We need to rotate. It is also difficult for the fast bowlers to perform well in each and every match in India. There is lot of pressure on the fast bowlers," Dhoni said.

Dhoni said his bowlers forced a result in Bangalore where pitch was not offering much.

"The efforts put up by our players especially the bowlers was really outstanding because by losing the toss I was not helping them out. In the first innings we were not able to get any kind of reverse swing going as the wicket was not so dry.

"If you see the result, I think it was not a wicket where you can get a finish in four and half days. It was not a turning track where our spinners can take wickets.

"Therefore I thought the efforts put in by the bowlers were good and the part time bowlers also contributed well. Of course, the batsmen have always done well for us," he said.

The India skipper said the youngsters should grab the opportunity in the ODI series and get a taste of international cricket.

"The rivals are two top teams in world cricket. We are hoping that it will be interesting. Both the teams are not fielding their best elevens. Australia have rested about six to seven players.

"The youngsters are our bench strength and they get chance to prove themselves. They will also get to know how tough international cricket is and learn the areas that they need to improve. I think it will be a good series," he said.

India have included young batsman Shikhar Dhawan apart from newcomers Murali Vijay and R Vinay Kumar for the ODI series, beginning October 17 in Kochi.

The clean sweep, after the seven-wicket win, is India's first against Australia, but Dhoni refused to be drawn into debate whether it was India's best win.

[ajithfederer]

Dhoni 1

Dhoni 2

LM, please upload these pics as well.

[Kalyasi]

Ivan perai sonanthum perumai sonnathum kadalum kadalum kai thattum

ivan ulagam thaandiya uyaram kondathai nilavu nilavu thalai muttum

Intha Mahendran enbavam padaipin ucham

Mahendira... Mahendira!!!

[ajithfederer]

Sorry to disturb again lm.

Dhoni 1

Dhoni 2

LM, please upload these pics as well.

[steveaustin]

Interesting to note that Dhoni and Number 200 seems to be lucky for Sachin. Recently two notable feats made by Sachin when Dhoni was at the crease. On both occasions, when Sachin scored a only ODI 200 and 200 in the second test Dhoni was at the crease.

[Thirumaran]

Ivan perai sonanthum perumai sonnathum kadalum kadalum kai thattum

ivan ulagam thaandiya uyaram kondathai nilavu nilavu thalai muttum

Intha Mahendran enbavam padaipin ucham

Toooo much.. Threeeeeeeeeeeee much... Oh God

[directhit]

Interesting to note that Dhoni and Number 200 seems to be lucky for Sachin. Recently two notable feats made by Sachin when Dhoni was at the crease. On both occasions, when Sachin scored a only ODI 200 and 200 in the second test Dhoni was at the crease.

http://www.cricinfo.com/india-v-aust...ry/481255.html