MS Dhoni fills you with confidence: John Hastings

Australian fast bowler John Hastings has credited MS Dhoni as perhaps the best skipper in the world. Having played under the 34-year old for the now defunct franchise the Chennai Super Kings, Hastings has had perhaps his most productive cricket.

Hastings first went on to compliment Sourav Ganguly on adding an aggressive dimension to the India-Australia rivalry. “The Ganguly period probably would have been it. He was the first one to take the game to Australia,” Hastings stated.

Speaking on Australia’s chances in what seems to be a marquee tournament, Hastings said that it was all about the confidence of the side.

“I think now in the Indian side, there is a lot of belief and confidence. I think it just comes out with the natural flair and with our side, it is the same. We have a lot of belief, a lot of confidence and so there are clashes. I don’t think it’s about getting angry, these guys are just passionate about cricket. However, they are friends in the IPL, a lot of them play together,” he said.

Having spent a decent amount of time in the IPL, John Hastings has conceded that it is difficult to bowl on Indian conditions. Moreover, with the Indians peaking at the right time they are clear favorites and seemingly unbeatable.

“It is difficult to bowl in Indian conditions – the slow, flat surfaces. You need to have all varieties. Two or three varieties like the slower balls and also the yorker. Lots of factors come into play, if you are playing on slow tracks. No margin of error,” he said.

“Indian batsmen have a lot of confidence right through from Shikhar Dhawan and (Rohit) Sharma to Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and then there is Dhoni coming in. I think that stems from the captain.

Finally, speaking about Indian skipper MS Dhoni, Hastings summed up that the Indian skipper induces confidence in the side.

“Having played under Dhoni in Chennai, he just fills you with a lot of confidence. I am assuming that what he is doing with youngsters,” Hastings summed up.