Mahendra Singh Dhoni may have inspired India to a massive victory against Australia, but the wicket-keeper-batsman believes it is too early to judge his leadership qualities.
MOHALI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni may have inspired India to a massive victory against Australia, his second as captain in as many Tests, but the wicket-keeper-batsman believes it is too early to judge his leadership qualities.
"It cannot be on two wins. It has to be over a long period of time and after a number of matches," Dhoni said in the post match conference after India crushed Australia by a record 320 runs.
Dhoni got his first taste of Test captaincy when Anil Kumble pulled out of the Kanpur Test against South Africa earlier this year with India 1-0 down in the series. He led the side to an emphatic win to level the series.
Here again he had to stand-in for injured Kumble and he again showed how good a strategist he is.
"We got a chance here. Everyone in the team contributed in the win. It was like a perfect game for us. Winning the toss was important as well," Dhoni said on India's biggest victory in Tests.
Dhoni said the only way to beat a top side like Australia is to play good cricket.
"If I wanted to have verbal spats (to help us win), I could have hired 4-5 guys to do that. Verbal chit-chat is ok if players do not cross the line. But the way to beat Australia is to play good cricket."
Dhoni praised his bowlers for putting up a brave effort.
"We had an opportunity and we made it count. All four bowlers did very well. Zaheer and Ishant were hitting the right areas and the spinners bowled a consistent line and length."
Dhoni, who scored 92 and an unbeaten 68, said after a long time he played his natural attacking game.
"I was surprised at getting the man-of-the-match award. I was curbing my natural instinct for quite some time. So I thought I will go out and play my strokes. If the situation demands, I will bat accordingly but more often I will play my natural game."
On debutant leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who took seven wickets, Dhoni said: "He has got a good loop. He is a slow bowler who flights the ball which at times is unplayable. He has loads of experience in domestic cricket. He could have been under pressure because he replaced Anil bhai (Kumble. But he did well."
But Dhoni said Australia should not be written off after one loss.
"Australia is a strong side. Its supremacy as the No. 1 team is still there. They have had one bad game, but I don't think that they have lost it yet."
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