I think Dhoni has a lot of cricket left in him: Michael Clarke

Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke seems to suggest that beleaguered Indian skipper MS Dhoni still has a lot of cricket to offer. Following the 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Australia, Dhoni has now failed to win a single series since 2014. The Indian team, however, has won two series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in between under the captaincy of AjinkyaRahane and ViratKohli respectively.

Speaking at the SCG shortly after his lap of honor, Clarke went on to say, “I think MS Dhoni has done a wonderful job for India in all formats of the game. I still think he has a lot to offer to the Indian team.”

“I think his captaincy has been very good throughout his career and I think he’s played a big part in helping India having sustained success over a long period. Any time the team doesn’t win, the captain is always accountable, so I’m sure he feels disappointed about not being able to win this series. I still think MS Dhoni has a lot to offer as a captain and also as a player.”

“I think Dhoni has a lot of cricket left in him…” says Clarke with a quick smile, when asked if captains have a shelf life, if that’s what you’re suggesting. He can continue to captain India if he wants to because he’s earned that right. And I think you know when the right time is to go.”

Clarke also went on to add that MS Dhoni is suffering from the loss of key bowlers in the side. Injuries to Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami haven’t helped MS Dhoni’s cause. I think you’ve missed Shami for sure in this series. He’d have bowled really well. But the wickets have been so flat. So I don’t think we can be too hard on the bowlers. India has made 300 every time they’ve batted against Australian bowlers as well. I just think Australia has probably scored that 20 or 30 runs extra every time.

“99% of the time, MS Dhoni walks out to bat with five overs or 10 overs, he’s unbelievable. You look at his record and somebody in the Indian team hasn’t been able to do that this series. I certainly don’t think we can be too hard on MS Dhoni and the Indian team.”

Adding to the fact that they have scored over 300 runs in each innings as well as the lack of support from the middle order, Clarke added, “India have probably missed someone in that middle order to be able to go in the last five or 10 overs to strike it at a strike rate of 150 – M.S. Dhoni has done that for so long. It’s been high-scoring from both teams which certainly has entertainment value, but I’d have liked to see a little bit more spin, because I’d like to see Ashwin play. Him and Jadeja are a very good combination, I think.”

Current Big Bash title holder and Australian batting consultant Mike Hussey too defended his former Chennai Super Kings teammate by stating, “I think we try and look too much into it. I think we try and look too much into it.”

“You put so much pressure on yourself. The fans and the media put so much pressure on the players. He’s got this wonderful ability just to get the players to relax, try and take that pressure off them. Just go out there and play and enjoy playing the game of cricket: that’s what he impresses on the players all the time and I think that’s one of his greatest strengths, particularly in a place like India, where there is so much tension, stress, pressure, so much attention on all the players.”

Hussey went on to sum up, “That’s why I say, the best teams in the world have a mixture of youth and experience. So the youth learns from the experience and the senior players get off from the adrenaline and excitement in the younger players. That’s what drives them at training to try and become better. India has that; obviously there are a few injuries but in my opinion they’re the team to beat at the T20 World Cup. They’re the favourites.”