The post-Tendulkar era in Indian cricket begins here tomorrow when the visitors take on a formidable South African side in what will be the real test of character for this new look Indian batting.
"With the last Test match we played in India, it is 100 percent sure that Sachin won`t be available for any more international series. It was always good to have him, but now that he won`t be there, we have to concentrate on what he have in our hands. We have accepted that fact and moved on," Dhoni said on the eve of the first Test.
This is the first time since November 1996, that all four batting stalwarts from the last two decades, Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly will be missing from the Indian line-up.
It has been a roller-coaster last few seasons for the Indian cricket with the ignominy of having lost 0-8 in Test matches in England and Australia. They have partially pulled it back with six back to-back Test match victories at home.
"Every series is a fresh start. There is no point bringing excess baggage. It is about getting used to conditions and offering what the team has. There are plenty of youngsters in this side, who will get exposure by playing competitive cricket at the Test level. So it`s a big positive for us," Dhoni said.
Having already conceded the ODI series 0-2, there have also been question marks on the Indian team`s preparations going into the two-Test series, against the likes of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, who have dominated the proceedings so far.
"At Benoni, we could have batted on the first day and made the opposition field on a wet outfield. But that would have been selfish of us because they also have a First-Class season going on. Nobody wanted to get injured so it was good for both teams that the match was abandoned. We did practice on the centre wicket and got the most out of it," said Dhoni.
About the disastrous ODI series, Dhoni cited the short duration being one of the factors for India not being able to make a comeback.
"In the ODI series too, we were confident but in a couple games, we played lots of shots and we found the fielders more often than. It was disappointing but when it`s a short series, you don`t get time to come back.
"But we learnt plenty from that series, what lengths to bowl and as batsmen what to leave. So overall, our preparation has been good and it is all about how individuals adapt to different scenarios now," he added.
Those different scenarios could pertain to two things before the start of a Test match, the pitch and team selection. The wicket at Wanderers will afford pace and bounce as always but it looks different from the ODI match that India played couple of weeks back.
"The wicket here will certainly assist the fast bowlers initially. The ideal length anywhere is to bowl at the top of off-stump and the bowlers have picked it up now they have played a few ODIs here. So it will be very crucial to bowl well, especially with the new ball because early wickets can put pressure on the middle-order," said the Indian captain.
As is his wont, Dhoni didn`t reveal the playing XI although he hinted that two of his bowlers will play a very crucial role.
"This middle-order has done well in the domestic circuit back home and also in whatever international exposure they have got. It is a fresh challenge for them and they will gain immense experience about how to play Test cricket outside India," he said.
Dhoni expects that veteran Zaheer Khan will guide the younger crop of pace bowlers as well lead the attack with a good show.
"Zaheer has plenty of experience and at the same time he will guide the younger bowlers, leading the attack. Ashwin`s role is also very crucial because he won`t get the same kind of assistance he gets back in the sub-continent. The way he bowls in the first innings will be different from the way he bowls in the second innings here," Dhoni added.
The onus will be on bowling well and getting 20 wickets needed to win a Test match, surely. At the same time, Team India`s strength for the past two decades has been the mountain of runs its great batsmen could score, helping its bowlers exert pressure.
That core group of batting wealth is gone now and when such a change happens, things will be different.
"When the seniors were part of the side, we didn`t really have to worry much about how preparation is going. Because once you have played international cricket for a long time, you know your game and at the same time you know how to prepare well in different conditions.
"They (Sachin, Rahul, VVS) had toured England, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand many times, so their basic plan to prepare was almost done and they just had to set up. But with the younger players, at times you have to guide them as to what needs to be done and what are the areas where they need to improve."
Dhoni has been a great advocator of keeping things simple and he wants his mates to follow that mantra here also.
"Keeping things simple is also very important. No one can change their technique in five, six or seven days. It is important to know your strengths and your limitations," he said.
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