Published 10:10 IST, January 19th 2019
'From Lamborghini to Aston Martin': Michael Clarke in awe of MS Dhoni's transformation
Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke has heaped praise on MS Dhoni following his heroics in the recently concluded three-ODI series between Australia and India
Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke has heaped praise on MS Dhoni following his heroics in the recently concluded three-ODI series between Australia and India, which the visitors won 2-1.
The former Indian captain scored half-centuries in each of the matches, and was adjourned man of the series for his batting displays. His performance, especially in the third ODI in Melbourne, where he judged the run chase with absolute precision, was one of the best by any batsman in recent times. And Clarke is thrilled by MS' recent adjustments.
"Dhoni has gone from a Lamborghini to an Aston Martin. He is still unbelievable. There is an adjustment. He is more experienced now, he knows his game better now. He acknowledges his partner at the other end more now. When MS Dhoni started, he didn't need a partner. Whether his partner got a duck, scored a fifty or a century if they needed 50 off 20 balls, the partner's job was to get Dhoni on strike. Now he knows how important it is for his partner to be able to find that boundary and lead up to Dhoni pressing gold. He’s had that in the last two games," he told Sony Six.
Dhoni was the star of the show in the three matches, as he scored 193 runs, including fifties in each of the fixture, at an average of 193 on his way to a man of the series award. His efforts meant that Virat Kohli and his men created history as they became the first Indian team to record a bilateral ODI series win against Australia in Australia.
Following their 2-1 ODI series win, India also became the first ever team to win a bilateral Test, ODI and T20I series against Australia Down Under. Their Test success came earlier in the tour, when they won the four-match series 2-1. As for their T20I success, they achieved it in their 2016 tour, when they won they whitewashed the Aussies in the three-T20I series.
Updated 10:20 IST, January 19th 2019