By IANS,
New Delhi: Former India captains Bishan Singh Bedi and Ajay Jadeja were effusive in praise of skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, saying he is the right choice to lead India at the moment.
Bedi said leading India is a tough job, as there are several people who would be out with a knife at the slightest of opportunity.
“Captaincy is not easy. If you do well, your colleagues may appreciate but others will be waiting to show their vindictive attitude when the chips are down,” Bedi said.
“My suggestion to Dhoni is that he should take everything in his stride. He should let his bat and wicket-keeping do the talking,” Bedi said during a panel discussion on the sidelines of a book release –‘Dhoni’ penned by journalist C. Rajshekhar Rao — here Friday.
Bedi even went on to compare Dhoni with himself.
“As a kid I had no ambition to play for the country. It just happened. I had no ambition to captain India but I was lucky. Dhoni is my kind of person. He seems to be in control of the situation,” said the legendary spinner.
Jadeja said there is no one better than Dhoni to lead India.
“He is one of the most sensible person you could find in the team. There is no other leader like him.”
Jadeja said it is very difficult to lead India now because there is more pressure on the captain.
“Even Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi would have found it difficult. The captain has to have a lot more attributes now.”
Bedi also slammed the Indian cricket board for sacking Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh as bowling and fielding coach.
“They (BCCI) did not even thank them. They just sacked them. It is not the way to treat people. BCCI is only making money and not interested in cricket,” he said.
Bedi said the BCCI has created a monster in the Indian Premier League.
“They will have to manage it. Everyone is sleeping and eating Twenty20 cricket. If a bowler is getting four crores for bowling four overs, why should he bowl 35 overs?”