Former Indian skipper, MS Dhoni has been out of action since India’s World Cup exit on July 9, 2019, but his impressive leadership skills helped to don the captain’s hat in Cricket Australia’s ODI XI of the decade. Current Indian skipper, Virat Kohli and his deputy Rohit Sharma were also included in the team announced by Cricket Australia on Tuesday.
Regrading the ODI XI of the decade, the report of cricket.com.au read: “The input of MS Dhoni with the bat did tail off during the latter part of the decade, but he was a dominant force in a golden period for India’s one-day side,” Cricket.com.au said in a report on its ODI team of the decade. Having assured his greatness by guiding his nation to World Cup glory on home soil in 2011, the right-hander became India’s ultimate finisher with the bat.”
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Dhoni will also be performing the wicket-keeping duties in the XI as he led India to their second World Cup triumph in 2011. Having represented India in 350 ODIs, 90 Tests and 98 T20Is, he has scored 17,266 international runs, which includes 10,773 runs in the 50-over format. From behind the stumps, Dhoni has affected a staggering 829 dismissals.
Talking about Dhoni, the report further added, “Dhoni’s average of more than 50 is undoubtedly boosted by the fact 49 of his innings were unbeaten. But on the 28 occasions, he has been not out in a run chase this decade, India have lost only three times. And his work behind the stumps has rarely let him or his bowlers down.”
Dhoni is currently on a sabbatical from cricket and has missed the bilateral series against the West Indies, South Africa, and Bangladesh. He wasn’t included in squads for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka and ODI series against Australia.
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Apart from the three Indians, the Cricket Australia’s ODI team includes Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Shakib al Hasan, Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, Mitchell Starc, Trent Boult and Lasith Malinga.
The ODI XI of the decade compiled by Cricket Australia:
MS Dhoni (c & wk), Rohit Sharma, Hashim Amla, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Shakib Al Hasan, Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, Mitchell Starc, Trent Boult, Lasith Malinga.
Special mentions: David Warner, Sjikhar Dhawan, Kumar Sangakkara, Ross Taylor, Eoin Morgan, Glenn Maxwell, Mushfiqur Rahim, Saeed Ajmal, Mitchell Johnson, Dale Steyn, Jasprit Bumrah.
