India’s limited over captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said lack of quality seam bowling all-rounders in the squad had hampered his team’s chances outside the sub-continent.
Talking ahead of team’s departure to Australia, which includes five ODIs and three T20, the 34-year-old said, “If you see the teams who have been consistent at the top level, all have got good seam-all-rounders. That is something we are lacking to some extent and it affects us when we tour outside the sub-continent.”
Keeping in mind the conditions Down Under, the selectors opted for Himachal Pradesh bowling-all-rounder Rishi Dhawan for the tour.
Asked if it was a right decision to play in Australia ahead of the T20 World Cup at home, where conditions would be completely different, Dhoni felt playing against the Steven Smith-led team was always a “good experience” ahead of tournament like the World T20.
“Australia always play competitive cricket. When you compete against them, you tend to get more experience. Though the conditions would be different to the T20 World Championship, it’s good to have three T20s together, because more often than not we get to play one match in a bilateral series.
“Now with the T20 series, we will have ample of opportunities to try and work on the best possible combination, which will help us to be better prepared for the World championship.”
India have a string of uncapped players in Dhawan, Gurkeerat Singh and Hardik Pandya, but Dhoni felt that the series will help these youngsters to get a feel of international cricket.
“The current younger lot have performed consistently at the domestic level and this will give them an opportunity to perform at the highest level. To see how international cricket is different to first class cricket. Quite a few of them will get a chance to play in Australia.
“This will help us to see how good they are once they take a leap forward into the international arena,” Dhoni said.
The 2011 World Cup ODI winning captain said the team would miss Suresh Raina in the middle-order. The left-handed batsman was dropped from the ODI squad but will be part of the T20 team in Australia.
“We have been struggling to find the right guys for the number six spot. We have tried different players, but none of them have managed to make a mark. With Raina, he may not be consistent at that spot, but he always makes runs when the team requires. In Australia, I may take that responsibility of playing at the number six position.”
