Shanghai Travel

MAHENDRA Singh Dhoni has defended Ishant Sharma?s funky flirtation with alternative medicine that will make or break India this summer.

India is prepared to gamble on its strike paceman in a way Australian skipper Michael Clarke won’t with Ryan Harris saying it paid to "be smart" with his key paceman.

Strike pair Ishant and Zaheer Khan have been like chalk and cheese in their bids to shake off ankle injuries ahead of the first Test showdown with Australia in Melbourne.

Zaheer opted for the traditional surgery route but Sharma hasn’t gone under the knife, putting his faith in the ‘natural’ remedies of doctor to the stars, Dr Jatin Choudhary.

“Surgery or no surgery is up to the individual. Ishant is a very honest player in the sense he is someone who works very hard in the net sessions,” said Indian captain Dhoni of Ishant who hasn’t played since the drawn third Test against the West Indies in Mumbai four weeks ago.

“Over the last few years he is someone who turns up and gives us 100 per cent irrespective of whether it is a practice session or game.”

Ishant has had regular acupuncture and revolutionary laser treatment that shaved a 3mm bone growth causing the lanky seamer pain in an ankle that remained heavily strapped yesterday at the MCG.

Ishant has dropped in pace from the rangy 145km/h missiles that stunned Australia in 2008 and have claimed Ricky Ponting and Clarke six times each.

However Dhoni said the 23-year-old now had to choose his targets wisely and was relishing bouncy strips in Australia.

“We play 60 or 70 per cent of the games in India. Sometimes you have to push yourself bowling quick, you can be bowling close to 140km/h but it doesn’t reach the keeper,” said Dhoni.

“It gets a bit difficult to motivate but he is someone who has a great attitude.”

Zaheer, 33, hasn’t figured since breaking down in the 196-run first Test loss to England at Lord’s and Dhoni concedes so much rides on his spearheads surviving the four-Test journey as India seeks its first series win in 10 visits.

India collapsed to a 4-0 humiliation against England this winter without 70-Test left-armer Zaheer.

“It is good to see them back in action. We have missed Zaheer times,” said Dhoni.

“We gave them time off and after that they bowled in the practice games so they are shaping up really well but of course we want everyone fit until the end of the fourth Test match.

“They are fit as of now which is a big relief.”

Clarke backed the resting of Harris in Melbourne despite fears Australia's needs his menacing speed to shake up India's ageing greats headed by Sachin Tendulkar.

"Rhino is a big player for us. He has been very successful for us of late in Test cricket and we want to make sure we give him the right amount of time to be 100 per cent fit to play Test cricket," Clarke said.

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