We will miss Laxman and Dravid: MS Dhoni

Zeenews Sports Bureau

Hyderabad: Captain of Indian cricket team MS Dhoni has admitted that the team will miss the services of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman as they gear up to start life without the two greats when they take on New Zealand in the first of Two Test series here on Thursday. “Indian team will miss the services of Laxman and Dravid. However, this also provides an opportunity for the youngsters and I hope they will perform,” he said at a press conference on Wednesday. While Dravid quit in March, Laxman, who geared up for the season with rigorous training at NCA and with two centuries in local matches, surprised everybody by announcing his retirement with immediate effect, withdrawing himself from the Test squad against the Kiwis just days before the start of the first match at his home ground here. As far as the strategy for the first Test against the Black Caps is concerned, Dhoni said they are looking forward for a positive start and will look to do the basics right. “We’ll look to do the basic things right. It is important to get into the groove. A Test match provides you the opportunity to do so. We’ll look to win each session,” he said. Match Starts at 9.30 AM IST. With PTI inputs