Spinners will have huge role to play in West Indies: Dhoni

India's limited-overs’ skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni does "miss playing Test cricket" and is keeping a keen eye on the series against the West Indies, starting Thursday.

He says spinners will play a huge role in the four Tests the team led by Virat Kohli will play on the tour.

"I think wickets will be slower in West Indies, but you never know. I think spinners will have a huge role to play," said Dhoni in Delhi on Wednesday.

He is pleased that India now has a pool of 8 to 10 genuine quick bowlers.

"The more the competition better it is. It's good that finally we have a pool of 8-10 bowlers who are pushing for selection. If I look at a year back, during an ODI series against South Africa, there were a few bowlers who were injured.

"And we have bowlers with all areas covered. If you want pace, we have that. If you want swing, we have that. Of course, we have to be careful about injury management," said Dhoni, after his company Rhiti Sports' tie-up with former Australia pace bowler Craig McDermott's company Secured Venture Capital.

Talking about India's batting line-up, he said: "We have a settled top six batting. There can be one or two new faces but more or less that's how the mix works. They have also played outside the subcontinent and have necessary experience."

It's nearly two years since Dhoni quit playing Tests and while he misses it, he doesn't "regret the decision".

"Obviously, you miss playing Test cricket, but I don't regret it. Look, for cricketers it's a passion, or call it a bug that stays with you forever. It never leaves you. That's why you have all these 40 and 50-plus cricketers who come back for commentary, coaching junior teams. As far as I am concerned, this gives me a chance to spend time with my family.

"The time away from cricket has given me lot of time to plan my off season. I hit the gym more, do a lot of running, taking care of my body. Now, after 30, you need to be careful of your body.

"In the last 10 years of extensive travelling, I have abused my body a lot. It's because of eating habits, as it's more about what you intake that creates problem. So I have been taking care of my body."

- India's Tour of the West Indies

IMAGE: Leg spinner Amit Mishra. He holds the key to India's fortunes in the four Tests against the West Indies. 

Photograph: Getty Images