We will take a call on Laxman in the evening or before the game: Dhoni

Published>Fri, Oct 08 10 07:57 PM

Bangalore, Oct.8 (ANI): Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Friday that he would take a call on injured VVS Laxman later this evening or before the second Test match commences against Australia from October 9.

"Laxman is much better right now, but we will take a call in the evening or tomorrow before the game, how he shapes up in the morning," said Dhoni.

Dhoni also said that there were many areas the team needed to improve like not dropping catches or ensuring better running between the wickets.

"We need to improve in quite a few areas, because you can't give too many runs with the new ball. Once you are close to the opposition target, we should not lose too many wickets, try to get as much lead as possible, not dropping catches, it's an old mantra and still going strong, and you trying to stop the singles that the Aussie team takes," said Dhoni.

"It is important not to let them rotate the strike easily, So, apart from that, running between the wickets, we have seen that run outs can change the course of a game," he added.

When asked about the verbal duel between Zaheer Khan and Ricky Ponting, Dhoni said that the players would only focus on the game and not on controversy.

"We always try to play cricket in the best possible manner but you know, heat of the moment, when you are putting a lot of effort, at time bowlers or batsmen, they tend to respond to the opposition's wordings and all, but we try to not get it too personal, because it does happen, a bit of chit chat is fine till it doesn't get too personal to the bowler and the batsman at the same time," said Dhoni.

"So, I think you know the last Test went off quite well apart from that one incident that happened, and we are hoping that, you know, we will close the series without any further controversy, if you are thinking the last one was part of it," he added.

India won the first Test in Mohali, to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma, are likely to miss the second Test because of injury.

After the two Test series, the two teams will face off in a One-Day International (ODI) series starting from October 17. By Sweta (ANI)

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