Dhoni defends decision to take day off
LONDON, England (AFP) — India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has defended his decision to take a day off in the run-up to the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval.
Dhoni didn’t train with his side, 2-1 down in the five-match series with one to play after successive heavy defeats, on Wednesday but was back at The Oval yesterday to speak to reporters ahead of today’s start in south London.
“It was personal. That’s why it was a day off,” Dhoni told reporters.
“I felt like taking a day off, and took one.
“Three days before that, I was with the team — and we had enough team-building activities — so that one day off doesn’t make much of a difference,” he said.
Rain forced India to train indoors yesterday after they were beaten by an innings inside three days in the fourth Test at Old Trafford last week.
India’s batsmen, particularly Virat Kohli, have been found wanting in recent weeks and Dhoni said: “We all have our own technique and need to have confidence in our technique.
“I might be one of the batsmen with a horrible technique when it comes to Test cricket.
“It’s all about adjustment for me. Still, you need to be aware of the limitations of the technique that you have.”