India’s bowlers hunting in packs, says Dhoni
KOLKATA, India (IANS/CMC) — India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has credited his new look bowling attack for the massive innings and 15-run victory in the second Test against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens here Thursday.
India piled up an imposing 631 for seven declared in their first innings and then bowled out West Indies for 153 and 463, after enforcing the follow on.
Fast bowler Umesh Yadav took four second innings wickets while seamer Ishant Sharma, left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and off-spinner Ravichandran Aswhin picked up two each.
Ojha took four, Yadav three, and Ashwin two, in the first innings.
“The bowlers are hunting as a pack. It doesn’t matter who is taking the wickets,” Dhoni said after the match was wrapped on the fourth day.
“The first innings lead was important. The 400-run lead helped us because there was nothing much for the bowlers in the wicket.
“We got them out comfortably in the first session, but we saw that the track was getting flatter, there was nothing in it for the bowlers.”
Dhoni was all praise for Yadav who finished with a match haul of seven wickets.
The 24-year-old was playing only his second Test after making his debut in the Delhi affair India won by five wickets.
“Umesh can really bowl over 140 kph. Ishant also bowled well. The bowlers are taking the responsibility,” Dhoni pointed out.
“The first innings was perfect. We got off to a good start and the middle order capitalised and we put up a par plus score. It was a lot of runs to defend. The fast bowlers gave us the breakthrough and the spinners capitalised.
“After that we had to be patient. (Darren) Bravo batted superbly well, supported by (Shivnarine) Chanderpaul and we were looking to get the key wickets to finish the match.”
West Indies captain Darren Sammy said while the batsmen had improved in the second innings, there was still much work to be done especially against India’s spinners.
“It was good to see that we bounced back in the second innings. We could have posted a challenge had we batted well in the first. Spin has been a difficult area for us. We just have to continue working,” said Sammy.
“India showed us how to bat. We have to apply ourselves. We were in a hurry in the first innings and lost wickets in clusters.”