Vengsarkar questions MS Dhoni's 'strange' fitness, slams Tendulkar's 'impractical' two-pitch theory

Mumbai, Dec 7: Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has questioned limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's fitness and also slammed cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar's two pitch theory for Ranji Trophy games.

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The 60-year-old current MCA president has wondered how MS Dhoni keeps himself fit without playing domestic cricket now that he's retired from Tests.

In an interview to mid-day.com, Vengsarkar, who's known for his straight-talks, wondered, "Dhoni has retired from Test cricket. He also doesn't play Ranji games. So how does he keep himself match-fit."

"One needs to play regularly to stay match-fit. It's ironical that Dhoni isn't doing this," he said.

The Colonel, he's fondly known, also slammed fellow Mumbaikar Sachin Tendulkar's theory for introduction of two pitches in Ranji Trophy games and termed the suggestion as 'impractical'.

Terming the idea impractical, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) director was quoted as saying, "How will this happen? If you play the first innings for two-three days on a green top and then shift, how can you predict if the ball will turn on the other pitch? And how will this help the bowlers? No, it's not practical."

Sachin Tendulkar bats for two pitches in single Ranji Trophy game

Tendulkar has suggested innovations of two different pitches for a single Ranji match to help players get used to playing conditions in West Indies, New Zealand and Australia.

"I have thought a lot about neutral venues in Ranji Trophy (which is being experimented this season). I have a suggestion which can be radical. Let us have the first innings on a green top with kookaburra balls which would give openers a challenge.

Even bowlers will have something. Our spinners will also learn how to bowl with kookaburra on Green tops," Tendulkar told at Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.

"Now let there be a pitch adjacent to the green top which would be a rank Turner. Now the second innings will be played on that track with the SG Test ball which would also help our batsmen play against quality spin bowling.

We have been too focussed on playing pace in overseas conditions but we should not forget how to play spin bowling," Tendulkar opined further.

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