MS Dhoni in self-critical mood following T20 series loss against South Africa

Dhoni believes he should return to his attacking ways in T20 cricket

Indian skipper MS Dhoni was in a self-critical mood following the defeat against South Africa in the 2^nd T20I at Cuttack that allowed the visitors to clinch the series 2-0 with a game to go, ESPNCricinfo reports. The 34-year-old believes he should play more freely in the format instead of taking some time to settle once he walks into bat.

Dhoni, who made his mark in international cricket with a number blistering knocks early on his career has since cut down on the attacking style instead choosing to be the one who stays out in the middle to see his side through till the end of the innings. While Dhoni sees no reason to change that approach in the ODI format, he admitted that it would be better to return to his old self in the T20 edition.

"A lot of times when I go in to bat, usually it is the 16th or 17th over, or fourth or fifth over with four or five wickets down. I have that tendency to use my brain, 'Okay let's go to 130, that will be a good score.' Depending on that I play a bit slow initially and then look for (the) big shots. It has happened quite a few times in the past, but in this format I believe what I should do is I should go in and play the big shots irrespective of what the scenario is. Because that's what this format is all about," Dhoni said.

"It is a very short format. Personally I feel I use a bit too much of my brain in this format. It is very important that I keep myself a bit free, and go and play my shots,” he added.

Dhoni has time and again stated his desire to bat at the No 4 spot in ODIs and the skipper explained the rationale behind the move.

“Maybe in the longer format (ODI) I still need to do what I am doing," Dhoni said. "One of the reasons I want to bat slightly up in the order is so that somebody else takes that responsibility of batting at five or six. Six is a crucial position. Till they are not exposed to that position, we won't really know who is good in that position. We have played a lot of our good batsmen at that number, and most of them have not been successful.”

Dhoni revealed that the thinking was a long-term one, something that can be useful even after his retirement.

“That is the reason we have been pushing them up the order. We have seen they have been doing really well and consistently up the order. So somebody has to take that responsibility of batting low. Maybe if I start batting at four or five, somebody else will have to do that position. Because in the coming years you need someone ready to do that job. It is something you need to have in your backup plans," he added.

Dhoni made a call for the games at this time of the year to be started a bit early to negate the dew factor but admitted that the matter was not in his hands to decide.

“We will try to get the most out of it (final T20 at Kolkata), see what the best combination for ODIs is. Again we will have to figure out depending on the venues. I have always felt this time of the year it is more tricky to pick the XI because of the conditions. At times, the toss becomes crucial with the dew factors. That's why I prefer for the game to start slightly early so that the dew factor doesn't become a big factor in the game. But you don't always get what you want. There are some things you have to go through."