Dhoni defends Harbhajan Singh

Indian team captian happy with less in wkts column; Smith only wants to attack

Dhoni defends Harbhajan Singh

Indian team captian happy with less in wkts column; Smith only wants to attack

It's a clash of philosophies. While India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is content when his spinners concede 70 runs (without taking a wicket) from 20 overs, his opposite number, Graeme Smith wants his specialist bowlers to attack the opposition, especially in the powerplay periods. India and South Africa will square off in a heavyweight clash here at VCA Stadium today.u00a0

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Gary Kirsten at the Vidarbha Cricket
Association Stadium in Nagpur yesterday. Pic/Sresh KK

"In India, we applaud centuries or four-wicket hauls. Everybody is criticising Harbhajan Singh, but as a captain, I don't have anything to tell a guy like him. He is doing a superb job, containing runs well," Dhoni said off Harbhajan - whose economy rate has been just 4.07 in the four games thus far. "If I have two bowlers who can contain 70 runs from 20 overs, I am happy.

Harbhajan Singh

That's what will create pressure on batsmen to take wickets. We are blessed with someone like Yuvraj Singh who can come in and bowl 10 overs if one of the main bowlers has had an off day," added Dhoni. In the ongoing World Cup, Smith has called upon Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir during the middle-overs and hunted for wickets. Thus far, only one team has posted in excess of 200 against the Proteas.

MiD DAY asked Smith if Dhoni's policy of 'defend and wait for batsmen to commit a mistake' will work. "They (India) seem to go in with too many part-time spinners, and that's their gameplan. I have enormous amount of respect for Dhoni's captaincy, but different teams have different philosophies.u00a0

SA variety
"We believe in picking lots of wicket-taking options. Our attack is not as predictable as it was ufffd we have quality spinners to back Steyn and Morkel.u00a0 We have been very successful thus far on the bowling front, and yes, we will look to attack in the middle-overs," he said.