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MS Dhoni is the most important player on the tour, says Harsha Bhogle

Popular Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle has claimed that Indian Captain MS Dhoni will be the most important player on the English tour. 

 Inexperienced top 6

Harsha points out that in case India plays with 6 batsmen with Vijay and Dhawan as openers, then that would mean that none of the 6 have would played a Test match on English soil. Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli are expected to lead India’s charge but they haven’t played a Test in England themselves. Both came close to make it to the squad during the previous tour but couldn’t force their way in.

In the current squad, Gambhir, Dhoni and Ishant are the only ones who have played a Test here and with Gambhir not being a starter for the first Test, Harsha firmly believes that Dhoni will be the most important player on the trip.

Harsha wants Dhoni to bat aggressively like he did in New Zealand which is what we might actually see since Dhoni himself had stated that he would be looking to score runs at a quick rate.

Trust your bowlers more

Harsha concedes that Dhoni may quit Test Cricket post the World cup and also feels that he seems to wait for things to happen in Test Cricket rather than forcing the issue like he does in the shorter formats.

Dhoni needs to trust his bowlers more than he usually does, says Harsha and quickly pointed out that this young Indian side had a great chance to win the Test series in New Zealand and South Africa recently but squandered it at the end. His impression gives a feeling that he doesn’t trust and like his bowling attack, he says and also suggested that India could look to use five bowlers.

 

Dhoni doesn’t have the luxury of having the senior players around this time who have helped him before. Instead, he will be the senior most figure now in the Test side and must lead by example. He turned 33 on Monday and had a bash with his team mates and would be hoping that the mood in the camp stays the same way.

 

 

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