Legendary fast bowler Michael Holding believes that despite the star-studded batting line-up, the Indian team is missing Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s ‘skill and attitude’. The former West Indies pacer said that former captain Dhoni of Team India used to chase a big target. Australia beat India by 66 runs in the first ODI played in Sydney to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Now the second ODI of the series is to be held in Sydney only on Sunday.
Holding said in the YouTube chat show Holding Nothing Back, “It was difficult for India to chase the target.” India missed Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
He said, “Dhoni usually lands in the lower half in the batting order and controls to chase the target. In his team, India has chased the target well in the past. ”Dhoni retired from international cricket in August this year. He last played his international match against New Zealand in the World Cup match last year.
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The 66-year-old veteran said, “India has a lot of talented batsmen who specialize in playing strokes. Hardik Pandya played a brilliant innings but still India needed a player like Dhoni. Not just in terms of skill, but also in terms of attitude. Apart from him, Shikhar Dhawan also scored 74 runs.
Holding said that the Indian team was full of confidence while chasing the target. “They were not afraid of fielding after winning the toss because they knew what Dhoni can do and how capable his batsmen are,” he said.
He said, “Dhoni never panicked while chasing the target. He knew his potential and did not get distracted. Whoever batted together kept talking to him and helping him. India’s batting line-up is fantastic but Dhoni was different in chasing the target.
Holding also criticized India’s poor fielding in the first ODI. He said, “SCG is a big ground but the fielding of Indians is very average. The ball went over Fielder’s head but did not hit a six. Should not have been so far from the borderline. ‘
