Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he always finds it easier to build the innings with his deputy because of the close understanding between them.
KANPUR: Crediting his century partnership with Yuvraj Singh for India's win in the third one-dayer against Pakistan here on Sunday, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he always finds it easier to build the innings with his deputy because of the close understanding between them.
"It always gets a bit easy when I bat with him because we understand each other well. We can both strike the ball and rotate the strike at the same time. So it is always great to have him at the other end," Dhoni said after India's 46-run victory, which gave the hosts a 2-1 lead over Pakistan.
Dhoni (49) and Yuvraj (77) combined to put on 100 runs for the fourth wicket and laid the foundation for India's winning total of 294.
Lavishing praise on the left-hander, Dhoni said the Yuvraj has established himself as a proven match-winner with his consistent performances.
"Yuvi has always been a trump card for us. I want him to bat for at least 20 overs in all the matches. His knock is important in every match," he said.
"He also bowled and fielded very well today," he added.
Relieved after taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, Dhoni said, "We were not really bogged down by the loss in Mohali but obviously we knew that it was very important to win today as we now have a lead."
Dhoni, however, admitted that India will have to improve their fielding as dropped chances may end up costing them dearly in close matches.
"Fielding does matter a lot. We dropped a few catches today and we know we have to work hard on this aspect," he said.
Dhoni's opposite number Shoaib Malik also had some fielding worries of his own and said dropping Yuvraj in the early stages of his innings perhaps cost the visitors the match.
"We were hoping to restrict them to 250-odd but Yuvraj played really well. We dropped him early on and that probably proved to be the turning point. We lacked in the fielding department and we need to work hard on it," he said.
Malik said Salman Butt's valiant hundred was one of the positives he would take into the fourth match in Gwalior on November 15.
"Salman is playing just superb cricket. We want him to continue the way he is batting at the moment," he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}