'Dhoni's calm from outside, very agressive within'

Source: Telegraph India    Date: September 29, 2007    

Bangalore: “Dada, six sixes baki raha... Yaad rakhna” is how former Team India captain Sourav Ganguly was greeted here on Thursday morning.

The fan, who’d apparently come on another flight which landed around the same time as Sourav’s Jet service from Calcutta, was actually echoing an across-the-country sentiment following our World Twenty20 success in South Africa.

That Sourav played no part in the campaign isn’t of relevance. Bottomline today is that the expectations from all wearing the India colours have risen sky high.

Sourav, who spoke to The Telegraph during the two-and-a-half hour Calcutta-Bangalore flight, is of course aware of that.

The following are excerpts

On the euphoria generated by the World Twenty20 win

It was expected... I suppose there’s more joy because we didn’t do well in the World Cup earlier in the year... The boys have excelled and deserve to be feted. (Adds laughing) The only time I took a ride in an open bus was in Belfast, earlier in the summer. But it was so cold that I had to quickly take shelter in the covered deck.

On whether the title has, to an extent, reduced his disappointment of having lost the 2003 World Cup final (in South Africa) to Australia

Oh, yes... It has made all of us feel good... Losing a final can crush you... It’s not just the 2003 World Cup, the disappointment of having lost the mini-World Cup final to New Zealand in 2000 (actually, the ICC KnockOut in Nairobi) still rankles...

On whether he regrets having made himself unavailable for the World Twenty20

Absolutely.

On whether seniors like him will now be under more pressure from youngsters

Whoever performs is going to play... It’s not a question of being a senior or a junior.

On whether he’d expected an India versus Pakistan final

No... I’d thought Australia would surely be one finalist... Because of the amount of Twenty20 played in England, I’d expected (Paul) Collingwood’s team to do well too.

On Mahendra Singh Dhoni as captain

He’s done very well... He’s calm from the outside, but very aggressive within... I like his body language... Dhoni captained well in pressure situations and, yes, I liked his bowling changes.

On whether, being a former captain, he’s obliged to make Dhoni (captain in the ODIs as well) feel comfortable in the dressing room

I don’t think it’s necessary to really say or do something special... Dhoni has played with Sachin (Tendulkar), Rahul (Dravid) and me for almost three years... He knows us and we know him...

On whether he would have given the final’s last over to Joginder Sharma

I wouldn’t have given it to Harbhajan (Singh) as, in that kind of a situation, it’s easier to go after a spinner... So, my answer is yes.

On Misbah-ul Haq being crucified for the final’s last hit

Perhaps, he ought to have waited for a couple of balls, but then pressure does funny things. Obviously, he felt the need to try and finish it off quickly... In a tight situation, you need to have strong nerves. Otherwise...

On whether the pace of the Twenty20 game makes captaining tough

Look, because of the duration, you’re always in the game... Dhoni’s real test will be in the ODIs...

On Dhoni’s comment that “small town boys are tougher mentally and physically than the cricketers living in metros”

I’m not sure in what context he said that... Till I get to know, I wouldn’t like to react.

On Yuvraj Singh, regarded as one of his boys early on, being in such superb form

As captain, I backed Yuvraj because of his ability... It’s not about being somebody’s boy or not being somebody’s boy... He’s doing very well because he has ability. I’m happy for him.

On the most improved Indian cricketers this year

Rudra Pratap Singh and Sreesanth... RP has been outstanding... He has grown in confidence and that’s reflected in the quality of his bowling... As for Sreesanth, he has been brilliant. He should be judged on his bowling, not by his behaviour.

On Team India’s chances in the seven-match ODI series against world champions Australia which begins on Saturday

Very good... Whatever the form of cricket, we’ve been playing exceedingly well over the past few months... Then, Glenn McGrath has retired and Mike Hussey isn’t available because of injury... Also, there’s a question mark over (Ricky) Ponting being available for all matches.

Finally, a year ago, where did he expect to be now

(Smiles) Cricket is unpredictable... I was then determined to come back but, frankly, didn’t know where I would be in 12 months...