04 June,2009 08:36 AM IST | | Debasish Datta
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni provided a classic example of how non-transparent India's cricketing set-up is when it came to giving the media an update on Virender Sehwag's fitness which is so critical to India's World Twenty20 title defence.
Vice-captain Sehwag was not part of the team, which beat Pakistan in a warm-up tie at the Oval yesterday.
When Dhoni was asked about Sehwag after the nine-wicket win, he said, "How can I tell you how long it will take for Sehwag to be fit? I have no idea whether it will take six or ten days. Why don't you ask our physio!"
It showed that even as captain of the team he was not in a position to reveal the type of injury and fitness status of his senior-most batsman.
And as Dhoni knows in his five-year association with the national team that the BCCI or the team management does not make the physio of the team available to the media unlike some other teams.
Rohit Sharma opened in place of Sehwag and scored a magnificent 80 off 53 balls.
Dhoni even elaborated on how the move to send Rohit up the order came about.
Ready to open
"After arriving in England, I had a chat with Rohit in which I asked him if he was okay with opening the innings.
Rohit was very enthusiastic. So I decided to give him a go. If he hadn't agreed I would have opened the innings. Rohit is the kind of player who gets enough time to play against the pacers.
"So I thought he can deliver the goods. I'm happy he has proved me right. I'll be happier if he continues his good job by batting in the same fashion as he did today," Dhoni added.
Dhoni's captaincy has been praised by all and sundry but pleading ignorance to critical issues will not do his reputation of a strong leader any good.
