When India face Australia in tomorrow’s ODI in Mumbai, they will be without a superstar who has haunted the Aussies for more than a decade – wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni.
The biggest omission from the Indian squad was Dhoni, who has played a whopping 55 ODIs against the green and gold, with a brilliant record of 1660 runs at 45.
Although he is yet to retire, Dhoni has not played a limited-overs international since the 2019 World Cup and there is speculation he may soon call time.
Taking his place against Australia is the hugely talented Rishabh Pant. Australia were jolted by Pant’s destructive batting ability last summer as he thrashed 159* from just 189 balls in the fourth Test at the SCG.
But he is yet to find his feet, owning an ordinary record with the bat in his 43 matches across ODIs and T20s.
India’s Rishabh Pant. (AP Photo/David Rowland)
If Pant performs to his ability he can rattle the tourists. India will, however, miss the steady influence of Dhoni who has been a cornerstone of their batting for the past 15 years.
Dhoni is the greatest ODI finisher of all time and, despite being 38 years old, is far from a spent force. The Aussies are well aware of that given that last year the former skipper made 305 runs at 76 from his seven matches against them.
While he is not as destructive as he was in his pomp, Dhoni remains remarkably composed and can make a tough chase appear elementary.
Twice last year he crushed Australia’s hopes – at Sydney he made 55* and at Melbourne he struck 87* to give India a 2-1 series victory.
Australia tried forlornly to put him under pressure but even a string of dot balls doesn’t faze Dhoni. He soaks up this pressure like a sponge.
Many fans are critical of the fact that Dhoni does not score as quickly as he once did, that he is no longer as dynamic a strokemaker.
What Dhoni now offers is extreme consistency. In 2019, Dhoni made 600 runs at 60 in this format without making a single century. Without making the giant scores of Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, he routinely chips in with influential knocks.
In 16 digs last year, only three times was he dismissed for less than 25. He made high-pressure runs in the World Cup too, providing hope with his late charges against England and New Zealand in the second half of the tournament.
India have possessed Dhoni for so long that many of their fans now take him for granted. Only when he’s gone will they recognise the value of his stabilising presence with the blade – not to mention his brilliant glovework.
MS Dhoni’s still got it (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Pant offers neither of those things. His keeping is not close to being as good as Dhoni’s, whether standing back to the quicks or up to the spinners.
Meanwhile, Pant’s lack of composure is his biggest weakness as a batsman. Too often he shows a lack of respect for bowlers, trying to flay good balls instead of waiting for deliveries in his hitting arc. Australia will know they can draw loose shots from Pant by drying up his scoring for a short while.
Of course, he’s only 22 years old, so Pant has many years to hone these elements of his game.
But right now he is not an adequate replacement for Dhoni. The Aussies will be glad for the absence of the Indian legend, who has shone against them time and again for so many years.
Sam
Guest
I simply love this guy and completely agree with well composed article. He has altogether different presence on the field, just seems anything is possible until he is there and to generate that feeling so long should be commended. I do agree he has declined with age and probably taking more pressure on himself to win everything. Hence he is not playing as anyone would like but still lot of respect for him and would still pay to watch him play.
anon
Roar Pro
He gets bogged down and allows the required rate to get completely out of hand.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Not unreasonable at all. I wouldn’t say I particularly like him either. But he’s bloody good!
HR
Roar Rookie
I remember watching the Sydney game on TV and thinking "they've missed a trick here not selecting Pant after the damage he did in the test series". Dhoni just looked past it. But then he was back to his old tricks in the last two matches, and as you say, India were always in the game while he was still at the crease.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Carey batted at 7 for us in WC and looked a composed veteran in that spot. He’s batting a lot higher for Strikers and is dealing with different pressures. I suspect at the elite level he’ll be a great keeper/batsman coming in late
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Odd that the article praised Dhoni’s composure (accurately) compared to Pant but the photo is a shot of MS looking straight up after obviously skying one going the tonk. I think maybe the article should praise his past deeds. Suggesting we’re happy he’s not here is a bit like saying the Indians will be glad McGrath isn’t playing - they’re both finished so we can only look back fondly.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
I guess the Indian selectors must have it all wrong then. .. I just don't like the dude. I got turned off him during a tour out here a while back. Would not answer a single question in a straight forward manner. They'd ask him something at a press conference and he'd start speaking in parables, making no sense, and I just thought he had a messiah complex or something. Unreasonable of me I know, but there you go.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
In the last couple of years MSD’s contribution and average have been flattered by a proliferation of not outs. He appears to be happy to be not out even if India loses the match. His strategy has worked at home but has not worked nearly as much away. There is a stat that has India winning a huge percentage of games when MS remains not out. But that is partly because he is often not out... win or lose!!
So he should just swing for the hills and get out with a mountain left to climb? Yes, sometimes in the recent past he's used up a few too many balls but he's never been the sort of player to come in and belt a quickfire 60* off 40.
anon
Roar Pro
He’s become selfish chewing up too many dot balls late in the innings leaving the team with too much work to do. Best days are well and truly behind him.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Yep. And I believe he wasn’t travelling that well leading into the series either. Then the old “form is temporary, class is permanent” kicked in for the 2nd and 3rd game. Look he’s certainly coming to the end of his career. And his naysayers will inevitably be proven right eventually. But it’d take a braver man than me to assume victory while he’s still at the crease.
HR
Roar Rookie
I think that "during" was after the first match in the series, where he plodded to 51 off 96 and completely becalmed the Indian chase. His two subsequent matches (both of which he finished not out when India chased down the target) changed opinions quite a bit - even though he looked pretty ordinary, he did exactly what he needed to do to get India home in relative comfort.
HR
Roar Rookie
Just a quick correction - his 55* was at Adelaide, but he was indeed not out at the end of both of India's successful chases. Australia was looking good in the Adelaide game (Shaun Marsh batted very well in blistering heat for 131), but after Kolhi got out, Dhoni just kept plodding along, keeping India in touch with their target. Even though he looked like he was going to collapse every over or so near the end of his innings, he still got them over the line - it was quite an innings to witness, not because of any spectacular physical feats, but because of his mastery in pacing a chase.
Tanmoy Kar
Roar Rookie
Rishabh Pant as a replacement for M. S. Dhoni has not succeeded yet, even fans are shouting to replace him with someone like Sanju Samson or Ishan Kishan.
Paul
Roar Guru
That criticism you refer to was justified IMO, Dave. I think it was a case of his ability to manage the back end of the innings, not matching up to his declining batting ability. In other words, age probably caught up with him.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Hmm. I remember the same sentiment in the 2019 series that Ronan referred to in the article. Before, during.... but not after for some reason.
Fracktobunt
Roar Rookie
Agree, certain players seem to thrive in high pressure situations chasing a total while others are more prone to brain-fades. Dhoni and Bevan knew how to win from anywhere, whereas someone like Damian Martyn got a bad rep after getting out in a test match against South Africa chasing a low total. Think it cost him a few years of his career as well. Not sure about Carey yet, he lacks a bit of consistency for mine but I hope you’re right.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Perhaps it’s just getting old, but these ODI innings all seem to blur. With so many ODIs played in the last year I have no memory of those ODIs played in Australia a year ago and not much recollection of Dhoni doing anything in particular, other than the general memory of him being a persistent problem. Though he did cop some criticism in India for his slow scoring in the World Cup.
Paul
Roar Guru
There's another aspect that should be mentioned and that's the confidence the presence of a Dhoni-type figure at the back end of an innings gives to the dressing room. He's similar in that respect to Michael Bevan. While they're at the crease, the batting side knows it's in with a chance, which gives confidence to the guys he's batting with. His ability to judge a run chance has been excellent, though his skills in executing perhaps waned a touch in recent years. I think this is a role Carey could also take on. He batted with a lot of composure in the ODI World Cup and if his form doesn't desert him, should be able to do the same in the WC later this year.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Is Pant all mouth and trousers?