The Indian team is in relax mode. A first competitive win in Australia after over two months coming in their opening World Cup game, the players have avoided exertion on reaching Melbourne, where they play South Africa on March 29.
There are tired and injured limbs in the travel party. The business end of title defence is still a month away and after landing in the venue for the second match on Monday, the team trained one day either side of two rest days. According to information received here, a few including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma visited the beach on Thursday. Most stayed indoors.
When they used the MCG nets on Wednesday, MS Dhoni was spotted doing extensive batting practice, followed by discussions with Ravi Shastri. With the batting showing signs of coming together, the skipper’s role is pivotal. Builder and finisher, Dhoni also makes his men believe in themselves with his own deeds.
Although some argue he’s not the same force outside the sub-continent, he averages 57.68 in 32 ODIs in Oceania. It was 68 per innings when India lost a five-match ODI series in New Zealand last year. But this figure has been 22 after four innings in Australia this season. With the rest promising, the skipper’s form might become a concern because of late, Dhoni has battled fitness issues as well.
“In Australia this time, we are yet to see Dhoni in his customary role, guiding the innings in the closing stages. And we all know what he can do in that period. He hasn’t got going in any of the games and with doubts clouding the top, this is a worry India carries into the World Cup. The middle can still manage, but with Dhoni not at his best, the top and late order of this batting line-up isn’t looking great at the moment,” said Aakash Chopra before the Pakistan match.
Even though the opening pair lasted 7.4 overs, Shikhar Dhawan ended a lean patch before Virat Kohli found another accomplice in Suresh Raina. These two partnerships took India to 273 for two, but the last five overs saw five wickets and 27 runs. Dhoni fell for a 13-ball 16. Pakistan couldn’t take advantage, unlike 2011, when South Africa beat India following a similar collapse in end overs.
Reports saying Dhoni spent time with the team director after nets on Wednesday corroborate the view Team India is thinking about it, while a glance through his numbers prohibits taking anything for granted. Probably past his prime and the steel frame not impregnable as before, he can fail. To know whether he has one has to wait until he does.
“Apart from everything else, Dhoni is a fantastic opportunist, in the positive sense. Don’t bother about how he did in lead-up games. He knows best how to respond to one-day situations, what’s required and how to get it. You can say he has patented these things. He has a specific role in the later part of the innings and knows how to manage. This line-up has explosive batsmen, who are brilliant runners and Dhoni is one the best examples,” felt WV Raman.
It didn’t happen in Adelaide, but in similar situations in the past, this bunch has shown they can make a difference in the business end of the innings. The World Cup will take time to reach that stage. Limited-over specialist now, what Dhoni does to get back to doing what he does best might have a close link with how India fares in matches that matter.