Losing Tendulkar can be crucial: Dhoni

ODI skipper feels losing Sachin Tendulkar ahead of the ODIs against Sri Lanka could be crucial for the team.

With the Test series already having slipped out of India’s fingers, ODI skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday feels losing Sachin Tendulkar ahead of the one-dayers against Sri Lanka could be crucial for the team.

“Losing Sachin Tendulkar at this point of time can be crucial. It is very difficult to fill the space when it comes to Sachin. He not only contributes with the bat and the ball his impact in the dressing room is great,” Dhoni told reporters on his arrival.

“Players look up to him and he always come up with brilliant suggestion and advices on the field as well. Talent wise and advice point of view it is very difficult to fill in his space,” he said.

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Tendulkar, who jarred his left elbow while fielding in the third and final Test, has been ruled out of the ODI series after he was prescribed three-week rest.

Dhoni, however, challenged his younger team members grab the opportunity to make a mark at this level.

“At the same time cricket goes on. It is upto the guys who have been given a chance over here to perform and to prove that they are good enough for international cricket.

“At times, we have seen that when such a thing arises in the international scenario the youngsters come up, they accept the responsibility. They take it as a challenge. Hopefully, it will be great to see someone who has just made his mark in the international level to really perform at the top,” he said.

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“It is one of the toughest places to play cricket. It is not easy. You don’t really see loads of runs in the one-dayers because the wickets are quite slow. You have to work for your runs. It will be interesting,” he said.