Dhoni has changed face of Indian cricket: Akram

M R Mishra
New Delhi, Nov 18 (PTI) Mahendra Singh Dhoni's leadership has changed the face of Indian cricket, according to Pakistan's pace legend Wasim Akram who believes it is a matter of time before India upstages Australia as the number one team in the world.

Akram said Dhoni has completely transformed the team ever
since he took over the mantle of captaincy and that Indian
cricket was on the right track with a number of talented
players in their ranks.

"Dhoni has changed the face of Indian cricket, there is
no doubt about that. He leads from the front, he has charisma
and players like him. You can't ask for anything more," Akram
told PTI in a telephonic interview.

"He has given the team the confidence. The players now
believe that they can go and beat any team and it is this
confidence that has helped India to bring about the desired
results," the former Pakistan captain said.

Akram, regarded as one of the finest left-arm speedsters
with 414 Test and 502 ODI wickets to his credit in a career
spanning nearly 17 years, said Dhoni had also brought about a
refreshing change in his attitude and approach to matches.

"It does not matter whether Sachin Tendulkar is resting
or some other players are injured, the Indians are so
confident that they go out and do the job. It was not the case
about six or seven years ago, India did not have that
confidence," he observed.

"If the captain leads from the front, half the job is
done. That is what I like about Dhoni. He is cool, comes out
with few quotes and gets the best out of his players," Akram
said.

"Leading the Chennai team in the upcoming Champions
League will be a good challenge for him since there will be a
lot of international teams," he said.

Asked whether India would be able to topple Australia
as the number one team in the near future, Akram said "India
is the new Australia. I think they are on the right track to
achieve that".

Akram also lavished praise on India's new pace sensation
Ishant Sharma saying the Delhi youngster had improved by leaps
and bounds in the last few months.

"Ishant has been a revelation. He has really improved in
the last few months and I think he is a real asset to India,"
Akram said about the paceman who emerged as the
man-of-the-series in the recent Test series against Australia.

"After the Australian tour late last year, his length was
slightly short. But he has now rectified that and was simply
brilliant in the recent series against Australia. The way he
bowled, it seemed he had been around in Test cricket for five
years or so," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator said Ishant will only
get better with time but also cautioned that the youngster
needed to be handled well to prolong his career.

"He (Ishant) will get quicker and better with time, there
is no doubt about it. He just has to keep himself fit as fast
bowling is hard work," Akram pointed out.

He said the Indian bowling line-up looked quite balanced
at the moment and the presence of an in-form Zaheer Khan has
provided a lot more sting.

"Zaheer has been fantastic. He has bowled the reverse
swing well, got the ball to swing in and out... he has become
a complete bowler now. He really provides that cutting edge to
the attack," he said.

"India always had good spinners but I am happy to see
these pacemen developing. They are winning matches for India",
Akram said.

The ex-pacer said Harbhajan Singh was capable enough to
shoulder the responsibility in the spin department following
the retirement of champion leg spinner Anil Kumble.

"Harbhajan is a good spinner. It is now upto him to take
upon the responsibility in the spin department. I think he is
capable of doing it and also has the experience".

Akram also credited India's rise as a cricketing nation
to the planning done by the Board of Control for Cricket in
India over the last few years.

"Credit must also go the BCCI for India's rise in recent
times. They have planned and implemented everything well. The
results have started coming now," he added. PTI MRM