Ashok Dinda has a good heart and learns quickly: Sunil Gavaskar

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar on Friday, praised Yuvraj Singh for his knock of 72 off 36 deliveries but also singled out Ashok Dinda for his spell that claimed three Pakistani wickets in theT20 played at Ahmedababd. India won the match by 11 runs.

Crediting Dinda for adding variations to his bowling towards the end of the chase, Gavaskar said that he showed good heart. "Full credit to him. He mixed it up and used the slower one. It's only at the initial stages with the new ball that he gives the batsman a bit of room around the off-stump and he gets taken for runs. If he can control that, then he would be less expensive. But certainly, he showed good heart. Dinda has learnt from his previous matches and that is what cricket is all about."

Defending 192, Dinda managed to claim the wickets of Umar Akmal (24), Mohammad Hafeez (55) and Kamran Akmal (5) to put the brakes on Pakistan's chase. His four overs though did cost 36 runs.

A mammoth total did rescue India at a time when Pakistan's openers began well and Hafeez looked to take the game away. Having been asked to bat, India's innings was powered by Yuvraj who hit as many as seven sixes. Gavaskar, while appreciating the knock, said that there is still some room for improvement. "He does hit them a fair distance but remember Chris Gayle hit them even further. I think he (Yuvraj) is just a little bit lazy when it comes to his footwork, doesn't get to the pitch of the ball and allows the ball the sneak in between bat and pad," he said when asked how a player of Yuvraj's caliber can improve in Tests.

Asked also about R Ashwin and if he was missed in the opening game, Gavaskar replied in the affirmative. " He certainly was. He is the kind of player with experience of playing in IPL in tough situations. He has variety and because he is a spinner, he will be taken for runs but if the economy rate is about seven and he keeps picking a wicket, I think he is doing very well."

Ashwin playing in the Motera T20 and claimed a wicket while giving away 28 from his four.