Dhoni: India can regain form in ODIs

Dhoni

India lost their recent five-Test rubber against Alastair Cook's side 3-1, with the tourists' meek surrender in the final three Tests - which were lost heavily - attracting widespread criticism. 

However, Dhoni's men looked much more at home in Wednesday's first ODI, easing to a 133-run Duckworth-Lewis victory in gloomy Cardiff conditions.

Suresh Raina led the way with a superb 75-ball century after India were put into bat, with Dhoni and Rohit Sharma both recording half centuries to help the tourists to a score of 304-6 off their 50 overs.

England, who were scheduled to play 47 overs after a minor rain delay, had no answer to Ravindra Jadeja (4-28) and co in reply, as they crumbled to 161 all out off 38.1 overs.

And Dhoni feels the shorter form of the game provides his players with the perfect platform to recover from their Test travails.

"It's a very different format, it gives them [India's batsmen] the freedom to express themselves," he told Sky Sports after the match.

"You can't play one-dimensional cricket [in ODIs], so it’s a good format to get back into form."

Dhoni went on to say the dull, drizzly weather in the Welsh capital provided Jadeja and his fellow spinners Ravichandran Ashwin (2-38) and Raina (1-12) with the conditions to cause England all sorts of problems.

“If it rains a lot the spinners go out of action, but if it's drizzling it gives them a sticky pitch and something to turn on," he added. 

"It was just the right amount of rain, even though we wanted to bowl first."

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