Dhoni all praise for Sreesanth

S Sreesanth couldn’t have dreamt of a better comeback. First came the six-wicket match haul, which included a fifer, and then came a string of compliments from his captain MS Dhoni.

Dhoni described the 26-year-old fast bowler as one of the finest exponents of reverse swing. “I feel he is one of the best bowlers of reverse swing along with Zaheer Khan. It’s good to see him in action,” said Dhoni.

What stands out about Sreesanth’s performance was the fact that he picked up six wickets on a pitch where other speedsters struggled to find any assistance. In fact, he is only the second Indian medium-pacer after the legendary Kapil Dev to take a five-for at Kanpur.

“Sree bowled really well. I don't think anybody expected a seamer to run away with a five-wicket haul but he did. Of course luck was on our side. We got a run out and some inside edges found the stumps. But he still came steaming in and bowled in good areas,” Dhoni batted for his bowler.

Another impressive aspect of the comeback man was the way he conducted himself on the field. The Kerala bowler showed restrain even after dismissing batsman one after another. The characteristic extravagant celebratory gesture, after taking a wicket, was conspicuous by its absence. After taking his fifth wicket in the first innings, all Sreesanth did was offer salutation to god. And it didn’t escape his captain’s attention.

“He definitely has cut down (on his antics). Hopefully he will maintain that. As long as he does not cross the line, it's good not just for him personally but also for the team. He was aggressive but in a different way. He controlled his emotion and that is very important. Hopefully he will continue like this in future,” Dhoni said.

The victory at Kanpur was India’s 100th Test win in 432 Tests played since India became a Test nation in 1932. “It is a moment of pride to be a part of the side that won the 100th Test. I think it wouldn't have been possible if the past cricketers had not done their job properly," Dhoni said.

Talking about the emphatic victory, Dhoni said, “It was a good toss to win. The wicket was good to bat on the first day and it started to turn later. I feel the amount of runs we scored in the first innings was important.”