AUS v IND 2018-19: Sunil Gavaskar hopes MS Dhoni will make the most of big grounds down under

Gavaskar also speculated of a whitewash by Indian team over Australia in ODIs.

MS Dhoni | GETTY

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has backed MS Dhoni to do well in Australia. Dhoni will be under pressure to come undecayed after a dull show in the past and also after his replacement Rishabh Pant doing well with the bat.

Dhoni hasn't looked the same batsman he used to be once in middle over. Also, he can still hit those huge sixes anytime he wants, but the wicket-keeper batsman has failed to finish innings lately.

In short, the Jharkhand cricketer isn't the same batsman he was at one time. Age doesn't seem to be a factor as his wicket-keeping isn't affected. Good reflexes and top-level fitness proves age isn't bothering the senior most cricketer of the current Indian team.

Former India captain Gavaskar believes Dhoni may make the most of the big grounds in Australia by stealing ones and twos. "We may not see the MS Dhoni who hits the big sixes on Indian grounds or English grounds because the Australian grounds are big. But he is so good with his fitness that he will be able to convert the ones into twos and twos into threes on large-sized Australian grounds," Gavaskar told India Today.

"I believe Dhoni will be able to make the most of these Australian conditions where the pitches flatten out after the new ball," he added.

As Hardik Pandya is suspended, Gavaskar believes Ravindra Jadeja will ease the burden from Dhoni by taking the responsibility of lower order. "It's quite possible that Jadeja may get a chance if Pandya does not play. And on big grounds in Australia, it helps to have a spinner. We found out that when Indian batsmen tried to hit Nathon Lyon out of the park, they were getting holed out. So Jadeja may play and it can be useful for the team because he may concede less runs in the middle overs."

A whitewash is possible added Gavaskar. "The thinking behind playing with retro clothes may be hope that they would be able to play like old," he quipped.

"But the way India won the test series and the form they have shown in one day cricket, it looks very difficult that Australia will be able to win. I know ODI cricket gives you more chances. But India will come to all guns blazing and I am confident that they will be able to win it 3-0," he said.

(With Inputs India Today) 

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 12 Jan, 2019

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