Indian captain Mahendra SinghDhoni today virtually ruled out the possibility of his sideplaying with three front-line spinners in the first Testagainst England on a dry Sardar Patel Stadium wicket heretomorrow.
This would mean that senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh,recalled to the side after more than one year in thewilderness, will be left out of the playing eleven with RAshwin and Pragyan Ojha getting the nod.
"Maybe, if we get a wicket like the one at Kanpur againstSouth Africa (in 2008), we will go in with four spinners. Whatwe need to see is that if we get a wicket like that the fastbowlers also get a bit of reverse swing. It's always advisableto have a bowling attack to have people (available) fordifferent scenarios," said Dhoni at the customary pre-matchmedia conference.
Dhoni also informed that speedster Ishant Sharma will notplay in first Test as he is yet to recover while all others,including Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav who did not practicetoday with the rest of the team, were available for selection.
"Ishant has got viral and not recovered fully. All othersare available," said Dhoni.
On Ashok Dinda, called up as back-up for Sharma, Dhonisaid it was just an extra precaution that the team has taken.
"He is just a back up. If someone breaks down in thenight or tomorrow morning then he comes into the picture,"said the India wicketkeeper.
Explaining the absence of Zaheer and Yadav from practicetoday, Dhoni said it was as per the team's plans as theywanted to give the two pace bowlers some rest after the longpractice sessions over the last few days in Mumbai and here.
"That's our plan. We had longish sessions in Mumbai whenwe were there (from November 9-11) and over the last two dayshere. (These were) long sessions for them. We said it would begood to give them rest (today)," he said.
Dhoni refused to be drawn into a debate on whether or notit was a revenge series for the team for the 4-0 thrashing ithad received from England last year in the latter's backyard.
"I know for a fact that when we go to the field therewill be a red ball, two teams that will play. You can name itwhatever you want. That does not change the fact that fromtomorrow we will go in and play Test cricket," he said.
Dhoni ruled out breaking up of the opening partnership ofGautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag despite the Delhi pair'sindifferent form in the previous home rubber against NewZealand and the earlier series in Australia.
"Gautam (Gambhir) and Viru pa (Sehwag) will open theinnings," he said, to end any speculation on the issue.
He also praised the complementary roles played by his twofrontline spin bowlers R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha.
"They (Ashwin and Ojha) understand each other reallywell, something that's very important. Ojha is someone who cankeep it tight at one end and Ashwin will always be a moreaggressive bowler, someone who has got plenty of variationsand loves to use those. One of the important roles of Ojha isto keep it tight while Ashwin can attack from the other end.
"We have seen innings where Ojha got breakthrough whileAshwin did a bit of containing job. Both of them are able toget wickets for us. The best part is, if there is somethingfor them they make sure they come into the game," he said.
On the role of Harbhajan, Dhoni said the feisty Punjaboff-spinner brings in his vast experience from which the othertwo younger spinners could benefit.
"If you see the top 4-5 spinners, Bhaji definitelyfeatures there. The good thing is he was out of the side andis now part of this series which means he can share hisexperience with some of these youngsters," said Dhoni.
"Ojha has played with him (Harbhajan) in some matches. Hecan share things with Ashwin because Ashwin is slightlydifferent to him. I feel he has got a big amount ofcontribution to make in the coming series. Of course he willwork a lot with the team," he said.
Dhoni praised the fighter in Yuvraj Singh - on and off the field - and said the left-handed batsman has alreadyslipped back into Test cricket after a long gap.
"He looks in good shape. It takes a lot of fitness toscore a double hundred; just hoping that he does not have tofield for two days. There is no need for the car which iscapable of a long haul to be driven the full distance. Oureffort will be to make the route shorter.
"He's an aggressive character. He's someone who reallywants to perform at the top level. The best thing for us is hebats at number five or six and his left-arm spin. It's a veryimportant role for us as we don't have a genuine all-rounderand play with four bowlers. His contribution will be veryimportant. He can be quite intimidating the way he bats. He issomeone who can really dominate," Dhoni said.
"Good thing is he's not starting (international career)from this tour. He was part of the T20 side also. He has got afair amount of exposure Good thing is his fight, you all knowabout his fight (against rare germ cell cancer). He's a strongcharacter. I think he will be up and ready for it."
He also predicted an entertaining contest between Yuvrajand his bunny, recalled England batsman Kevin Pietersen whocalls the Indian pie-chucker for his part-time left-arm spinbowling.
"I never doubted that he (Pietersen) would be part of thesquad when the English team comes to India whatever washappening around at that point of time. Of course he is agreat batsman who loves to play his shots. You will enjoy thecontest between him and the pie-chucker," he said.
Though Dhoni was not willing to openly say that thewicket at the Motera stadium would crumble at some stage,Dhoni expected it to help the spinners a bit.
"It looks like a good wicket though I am not a great reader of wickets. It may slow down and spinners would get abit of assistance. (There) may be a bit of reverse swing forthe fast bowlers. I will see how it behaves. Definitely itlooks to be on the drier side," Dhoni said.
"I feel they have changed the soil from the last time wehave played here. They have used a bit more of clay into thepreparation of the wicket. Definitely I feel it will turn. Butwill have to see the pace of the wicket," he explained.
Dhoni said the Indian team would never disrespect Englandthough his side are playing at home.
"What is important is you need to respect the opposition.
You play 60 to 70 per cent of your cricket in your own countryand you are supposed to be good there. Once you go to adifferent part of the world it's a fresh challenge for you.
Every country feels the same. It's no different for England.
"When we go out we also face big challenges. That's why Ifeel each and every tour is very special. It's the same forthe English side," Dhoni remarked.
He said it was not under his instruction that Englandwere denied practice in their three-warm-up games against sometop Indian spinners, barring a few overs from Amit Mishra inthe last game here.
"That's an administrative decision about which I cannotsay. No instructions went sent from my side," he said.
On the call from retired great Rahul Dravid to give amore hands-on role to coach Duncan Fletcher in selectionmatters, Dhoni said the coach was already a part of theselection process (though without a vote).
"We (captain and coach) are part of selection process.
It's a new selection committee. We had a very good firstmeeting. Let's see how it goes. As of now we are definitely abig part (of the committee)," Dhoni said.