It will be a close series, says MS Dhoni

Ahmedabad: After a match-saving performance by the batsmen in the first Test, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni Friday said the series against Sri Lanka will be a close one.

“We had to handle our nerves and that’s what we showed. We’re proud of this achievement,” said Dhoni, after Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar hit centuries on the final day to draw the first Test.

“The series will go close. We can bowl more disciplined lines, but apart from that the bowlers bowled their hearts out. It wasn’t easy. We’re not worried about the batting. We expected the track to have a bit more bounce for the spinners, but it favoured the batsmen,” he added.

Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara said he was disappointed that things did not go their way even after his side scored a mammoth 760 for seven in the first innings.

“A bit disappointed but a few surprises. We showed a lot of fight and spunk. It was a pretty flat track. We were thinking positive and needed something to go our way today but that didn’t happen. But we’re not too disappointed. Chanaka Welegedara, having to step in on the morning of the match, did fantastically. Dammika Prasad showed a lot of heart to bowl at 140-plus with a hamstring. It’s nice to see people put their hands up,” he said.

Man-of-the-Match Mahela Jayawardene, who scored 275, said the series is a challenge for him.

“The last time I toured India I had a few fifties; it is always a challenge coming here. I got good support on the way and, all in all, it was a great Test match,” he said.

IANS