 "Mahendra Singh Dhoni")
Once again harping on the "process" after India's embarrassing 214-run loss against South Africa in the fifth and final ODI, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni insisted that issues need to be addressed soon to get the national cricket team in order.
After allowing South Africa to post 438 for four, the highest conceded ever by India in ODIs, the hosts were shot out for 224 in 36 overs and Dhoni admitted the team is in a tough spot.
"I know India is more about result, but at the same time you won't always get the results if you are not looking into the process. It's a tough situation," Dhoni said in the post-match press conference here last night.
"But at the same time we are looking for solution. We have to try a few other things, because if you are doing the same thing, you will get the same result," he explained further.
Clinching the five-match rubber 3-2, Proteas registered their first-ever bilateral ODI series in India, which comes straight after their 2-0 triumph in the three T20s.
"We have to look at the larger (longer) picture. (Otherwise) may be you will win a series here and there. But to be consistent you have to have a settled team. To a lot of extent our team does not look to be that settled," Dhoni said candidly.
The Ranchi star has been criticised for making quite a few changes in the batting order, but defended his strategy and said he had done it to find out the best solution to different situations the team would be facing.
"You have to look at the venue, what kind of wicket is provided and accordingly you have to make changes. I have made a few changes in the batting order to see what gives more strength to our batting order, what looks like a very good composition when you are chasing. All these things you have to study."
He also declared that Stuart Binny, who figured in only one game of the 50-over rubber, remained the best seam-bowling all-rounder while left-handers Axar Patel, who played in four out of five, and the axed Ravindra Jadeja were the country's best bets as spin bowling all rounders.
"We will keep talking we don't have seaming all rounders. We have tried Stuart. People have criticised that also, but if you look at all-rounders in India, who is your best seaming bowling all-rounder - it's Stuart Binny - and the two best spinning all rounders - Ravinder Jadeja and Axar Patel.
"Whether you like it or not these are our best seaming and spinning all-rounders and we have to make the best out of them," he emphasised.
