By IANS,
London : Bowling legend Wasim Akram feels it is too early to write off the captaincy skills of M.S. Dhoni, who is at the receiving end after India’s two consecutive losses in the Test series against England.
Akram said India have done well under Dhoni in most parts of the world and judging him after two losses is like jumping the gun.
Under Dhoni, India have won the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup, achieved the No.1 Test status and won the World Cup earlier this year after 28 years.
“You cannot write him off on the basis of two losses. He has won the World Cup for India and has also done well in most parts of the world.
“Yes, one thing that Dhoni needs to take care are his keeping skills. We can’t say that he has failed, rather we can just say that it is a wake up call for him,” Akram was quoted as saying by Mobile ESPN Tuesday.
Ever since the second Test came to a premature end Sunday, Dhoni has been widely criticised for his captaincy and his batting and wicket-keeping abilities. Dhoni has scored 49 runs in four innings so far.
Akram backed Dhoni for opting to bowl at Trent Bridge and said England’s recovery from being 124 for eight to posting 211 was the turning point of the match.
“There was a lot of grass on the morning of Day 1, so Dhoni went by his instincts and I believe he was right to bowl first. Everybody has an opinion but I feel, as a bowler, I would have loved to bowl on that track.
“I think the ninth-wicket partnership between Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann made the difference, otherwise the move was going as per plan,” he said.
Akram believes the return of Virender Sehwag will make a world of a difference.
“Sehwag’s presence will certainly bolster the Indian batting. He has not played cricket for a while but he is a kind of batsman who can be very dangerous. Both Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir form an incredible opening duo for Team India. So I hope they are genuinely fit and help out the team,” said Akram.
Akram also advised Zaheer Khan to bowl as many overs in the two-day warm-up match in Northampton slated for August 5-6 to get fit for the third Test.
“Zaheer has played very little cricket before coming to England. He missed the West Indies tour and it has been tough work for him on the soft English grounds.
“So I guess he should be looking to bowl for long in the nets and also in the warm-up game against Northants to get match fit,” said Akram.