Bowlers need more adjustment from Test to T20: Dhoni

Nagpur:

Indian bowlers would find it more difficult than the batsmen to make the switch from the longest to the shortest format of the game, according to Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

"It's (switch) difficult. But if you see we had been scoring at 5 an over in the last Test we played (at Mumbai). I don't think it would be too difficult for some of the batsmen, especially Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir", Dhoni said ahead of the first Twenty20 International against Sri Lanka.

"They actually bat in the same way. Just that they are a bit over-aggressive in T20 format, you can say," he said.

"Though the bowlers need to roll their arm for only four overs, an enormous effort is involved to do so in the T20 format as the batsmen would go after them from ball one, especially on Indian pitches," he said.

"Most of our players are positive players, looking for strokes and runs. I don't think you need to change your game too much. Of course a few others need to change according to the requirements".

"Considering we are playing in India, it would be a bit different for the bowlers, as the batsmen would go after them from the very first ball. It looks to be a small game, just four overs, but the amount of effort thats needed, thats what it is all about", he explained.

Dhoni said his team will look to win both the T20 matches.

"We will try our best, it's a very different format. We have to be up to the mark in everything. It's important to be right on target. We will try and win both the two T20 games (against Lanka)," he said.

The second match is at Mohali on December 12.

Dhoni hoped to keep it a 100 per cent win record for India at this new venue after having won the Test against Australia last year and again the ODI against the same opponents two months ago.

"We hope to have a 100 per cent strike rate at Nagpur. It will be good for Nagpur and India," he quipped.

Dhoni felt the wicket looked to be good for stroke playing but also cautioned the quick manner in which things fall apart for a batting side when they are on the look-out for quick runs in T20 games.

"Looks like a good track. It's a late evening start. We may see dew come into effect. But by the time dew comes in the game may be over. It won't be that big a factor."

"Overall it will be good for batting, but in T20 its very tough to predict. All of a sudden you look to go agressive and lose quite a few wickets at quick intervals and you are not able to get big runs", he pointed out.

Dhoni said that the two newcomers in the Indian team, Ashok Dinda of Bengal and R Ashwin of Tamil Nadu are bound to benefit by having a close look at what an international game is about by sharing the dressing room with the others.

"It's a different format. Youngsters would get exposure and also get to know what international cricket is all about. You can spot talent and slowly groom them so that they are ready for 50-over game and Test cricket at the same time", Dhoni said.

"It's very good for them, a good platform and opportunity if they get a chance. If they don't they can still have a close look at what international cricket is all about," he said.

Dhoni preferred to wait and watch the impact the new fielding consultant Michael Young, employed by the Cricket Board for the T20s and the subsequent five-match ODI series against Lanka, would make on his team members.

"We should wait and watch what kind of an impact he will make. Wherever he had gone he has done well," he said.

He also said there were benefits in bunching players into two or three in fielding sessions.

"It's always better to have fielding sessions in short groups to have an eye on the techniques of the players so that they don't injure themselves and at the same time are in a good position to implement run outs or take a good catch.