Mumbai: Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s India suffered a 0-4 hammering in England during the 2011 tour and were then spanked apart by Australia by an identical margin. The memory of those two series losses are still fresh and although India avenged the loss to Australia by winning 4-0 at home, they are still to give it back to England to whom they lost 1-2 in the home series of 2012.
In 12 overseas Tests since the 2011 England series, India have lost 10 games overseas and are yet to win even one.
“It was disappointing to lose in England and Australia but it is important not to forget the last couple of series (in SA and NZ). We could have won a few games but couldn’t close them out. We tried our best but they batted really well. I am happy with the effort put in by the whole team,” he said here before the 18-member tour left for England.
“In 2011 plenty of things went wrong in England. We had 8-9 injuries (during the tour). We missed one fast bowler which put pressure on the others. We know the mistakes we made. Tough times push you to look at gray areas. Many things came out which helped us in SA and NZ,” he added.
India have lost 11 Tests in 22 away matches under Dhoni and the wicketkeeper-batsman vowed to more aggressive in his batting.
“I got banned abroad in long series last time (in Australia). There is pressure to maintain the over rate. I have to be far more aggressive in batting and back my instincts. Not think too much about the situation,” he said.
India are taking an 18-member squad for the Tests and many are touring England for the first time but Dhoni isn’t worried.
