IPL not right yardstick to judge talent: MSD

PUNE: Indian skipper MS Dhoni has always had interesting views on domestic cricket. In Australia, he said, the current domestic cricket structure doesn't produce finished products. However, barely a month later, he feels it and not the money-spinning IPL, is the best system to judge how talented a player is.“I have always said IPL is a platform where you found out about a player's talent.After that you follow them in domestic circuit and see how well they are performing,“ he stressed.
The Indian skipper said IPL allows you to get away with a lot of shortcomings in your game. “In IPL, you can get away with a lot of things. But to select proper Test or 50-over cricketers on IPL performance, is not right,“ Dhoni said on the eve of India's first T20 International against Sri Lanka here on Tuesday .
The wicket-keeper batsman will be the captain of the newly formed Pune franchise in the IPL and will be playing the home matches of the team at the Gahunje Stadium. When asked about his views on the venue, Dhoni banked on his sense of humour. “I like dogs,“ he said. “And there are 24 dogs of good breed here in the kennel,“ he added.
He also made plans to do other things when he is here for the IPL. “There is an airforce base here too and you get to see fighter planes,“ said Dhoni, an honorary lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army .
Getting back to cricket he seemed pleased with the BCCI's scheduling as the team won't have to swap between formats unlike some of the other INDIA outfits. “It's only the T20 format (that India will be playing for a while). After this series there is the Asia Cup, some warm-up games and the World T20. It has given us time to get into the groove as in different formats the requirements are different. I feel it will give us time to adjust.“
While many feel, the series offers India a chance to tinker with the format, Dhoni wants to stick to the tried and trusted and wants Suresh Raina to plat at No.4, a posi tion that he did quite well in Down Under.
“It did cross our minds (to use Raina at No.3) but it will be slightly better if he bats at the position in which he will most likely bat in the World T20,“ Dhoni said at the be fore the first game of the three-match T20 series today.
“We need to give him that exposure as we are a team, which doesn't play many T20s. It's usually one game a series. This series gives us the opportunity to expose him to No.4 slot for a considerable period of time. It will be more appropriate to keep him at No.4 so that he gets adjusted rather than use him CAPTAIN justed rather than use him at one drop and ask someone else to bat at 4,“ Dhoni explained.
“It will be better if Raina bats at the position he would bat at the World Cup.
The lead up matches will give him a chance to bat consistently at No. 4. The No. 3 is an option, but No. 4 would be more appropri ate,“ he said.
The skipper also appeared happy with the squad for the World T20. “The team looks balanced now,“ he observed.