Perfect way to celebrate 100th Test win: Dhoni

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KANPUR - Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said Friday that an all-round performance against Sri Lanka made India’s 100th Test win a perfect one.

Beating Sri Lanka by an innings and 144 runs in the second cricket Test here at the Green Park Stadium was an ideal way for India to celebrate the occasion. India will now go into third and the final Test in Mumbai with a 1-0 lead in the series.

“It’s a moment of pride for me, this 100th win, and I am honoured to be part of this side. Everything went perfectly for us in this Test. Bastmen and bowlers did their job. It was important to win this big and gain the momentum,” said Dhoni.

“The wicket was quite good. Not even close to what we played on in Ahmedabad. It started to turn a bit on the first day and kept a little low,” he added.

Dhoni pointed that two changes in Man of the Match Sreesanth and Pragyan Ojha worked for India and lauded the bowlers for the stupendous performance to wrap up the match in four days.

“The changes in side brought in some fresh legs. Sreesanth is one of the best reverse swing bowlers in India. Pragyan Ojha had a very good debut. There will be something for the fast bowlers as well as spinners in Mumbai,” he said.

“Sreesanth bowled in the right areas and reverse swing worked in his favour. Harbhajan (Singh) was also good. None thought that a seamer could take five wickets on this wicket. Sreesanth did a real good job for the side. Sreesanth and Zaheer (Khan) are the two best reverse swing bowlers we have in the team,” he said.

The captain also had words of praise for his opening batsmen Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag, who gave India a terrific start with their 233-run stand.

“It was important that we got that many runs on the first day. We have always done well when the openers gave us a good start. Sehwag and Gautam gave us a good start and then we got wickets at regular intervals. We will miss Gambhir in the next Test but hopefully his replacement will give us a good start with Sehwag,” he said.

Dhoni said that the team has done well in the last few years and it was a privilege for him to be a part of it.

“Last few years we have done well wherever we have gone. The young guys have also benefitted from the exposure they have gained in conditions like England. We also have players in the side who have played for last 10-15 years and have virtually played in all conditions,” he said.

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara blamed his batsmen for the loss.

“We needed good partnerships. But loose shots here and there cost us. Had the batsmen applied themselves and occupied the crease it would be been different for us. We have to be mentally strong to come back in Mumbai. We need to create chances early and take them,” he said.