Dhoni urges team to lift fielding standards

Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday conceded that his sides fielding standard needs to improve considerably for it to do well at the Champions Trophy.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday conceded that his sides fielding standard needs to improve considerably for it to do well at the Champions Trophy. Our fielding standards,compared to the ones we had in Australia in 2007,is now very different. A lot of it has to do because of different conditions in which cricketers come up, Dhoni said.

The Indian skipper said the Indians,who take on New Zealand in their only warm-up game on Sunday,cannot be expected to become the worlds best side in matter of days. Its not like we can be world-beaters in seven days. We accept that. But if we can improve our standards by 10 to 15 per cent,if the fielders can push their effort by 20 per cent it would be good. Thats realistic, he said.

Dhoni also dismissed suggestions that one-day cricket was losing its appeal after the advent of Twenty20 cricket. This question is here to stay. Personally I love one-day cricket. Its interesting and demands a lot of flexibility both in terms of technique and patience. You need to pace your innings, stated Dhoni.

Meanwhile,coach Gary Kirsten said the Indian batsmen are adapting gradually against the short-pitched bowling. Our batsmen have been scoring runs against all fast bowlers in all kind of conditions. There was only one match against the West Indies in Twenty20 World Cup where we were not on top of our game and all this talk started, he said. The return of Rahul Dravid is seen as crucial for the team and Kirsten said the veteran right-hander is an asset. The return of Dravid will help. He is a good player of quicker bowling. Conditions will be quicker here and he will be a great asset to us, he said.

Harbhajans ode to Gavaskar

Harbhajan Singh wants to score a century to fulfill the wish of Sunil Gavaskar. The off-spinner,who has shown promise with the bat repeatedly,is hoping that soon there will be a moment in his career when he will lift his bat after scoring a hundred. In a function in Mumbai recently Sunil Gavaskar wanted to know when I would hit my first hundred. Coming from him it was a huge thing. Hopefully there would soon be a cause for cheer and it would be for Sunny bhai, said Harbhajan.

Gautam Gambhir,on the other hand,said he would take the onus to anchor his team in the Champions Trophy but admitted the absence of his regular opening partner Virender Sehwag will play on his mind. He is a legend of the game and surely you miss him. We have a tremendous rapport,both on and off the field, said Gambhir. It Sehwags absence does play on your mind. When he is around,he is so destructive that he allows you to be yourself. When he is not around,you try to take up the responsibility from both ends, he added.

Will depend on bouncers: Ishant

Ishant Sharma said he will rely more on bouncers as it could prove to be an effective weapon in the seaming tracks in South Africa. All through these years I didnt think bowling bouncers was necessary to me. But now I am realising with my pace it can make a difference. I am now practicing bowling bouncers, he said adding that hes not looking to drop pace. This issue of drop in pace depends on conditions. In Australia you could be quick in air. I am essentially a fast bowler and I dont ever want to be a medium-fast bowler, Ishant said.