Yuvraj denies Dhoni rift

Batsman wants skippers job

By Simon Dilger   Last updated: 1st June 2008

yuvraj singh india v pakistan

Yuvraj: Eye on role

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Yuvraj Singh has denied rumours of hostility with current skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni despite admitting he has an eye on the captaincy of India's one-day side.

Yuvraj was a leading contender for the role before Dhoni was selected but he insisted that there was no bad blood between the pair.

The 26 year-old batsman, said that he and Dhoni were close friends and that the media was to blame for speculation of a rift with the wicketkeeper.

"I think things like rivalry and confrontations is talk stirred up by the media," he said.

"Me and Dhoni are very good friends and help each other at any time because we understand how the game has to be played."

Honour

But Yuvraj, who has played in 23 Tests and 204 one-day internationals, admitted he would relish the opportunity to wrest leadership duties from his team-mate.

"It is an honour to captain the Indian cricket team," he added.

"I also wish to be the captain but the most important thing is to do what is good for the team.

"I think, what the team wants is more important than personal desires."

Yuvraj pointed to Dhoni's relative inexperience adding that the 26-year-old, who has played in 29 Tests and 106 ODIs, needed support from his colleagues.

He said; "Dhoni is very young. He came in three-four years after I had started playing and he is captaining the Indian cricket team.

"He needs the support of the team and the team likes him a lot. He is a very cool-headed person which is necessary for a captain."