Ravindra Jadeja turns to watch the ball even though batting with Hardik Pandya against Australia for the duration of their 1 day international cricket match at Manuka Oval in Canberra, Australia. (AP Photo)
MS Dhoni Plan: Tottering at 152/5 in the 33rd more than of their innings for the duration of the third ODI against Australia at Canberra, India had been in troubled, but familiar, waters with their final recognised batsmen – all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja at the crease. Any additional fall of wicket would’ve exposed the tail of the Indian batting and created tricky any likelihood of them posting a sizable total and holding on to any semblance of pride immediately after getting outplayed in the very first two One Day Internationals at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) and handing more than the 3-match-series 2- to the Aussies.
At that important juncture it was the Mahendra Singh Dhoni template that the Pandya-Jadeja duo relied on to amass a record 150-run unbeaten partnership guiding Team India to a fighting total of 302/5 in 50 overs. Jadeja revealed in a post-match interview how the ‘MS Dhoni plan’ of constructing and pacing the innings helped the duo via their stint on the crease.
Referring to Mahendra Singh Dhoni as ‘Mahi bhai’, Jadeja mentioned that no matter if it was Team India or Chennai Super Kings (CSK) MSD had a set pattern for constructing his innings. Dhoni would stroll out to bat with the intent to get himself set at the crease and develop a partnership with the other batsman. While batting MSD would usually inform him that if they batted till the finish of the innings then they could score a lot of runs in the final 4 or 5 overs, Jadeja mentioned in the post-match interaction with Sony Sports Network.
Ravindra Jadeja revealed that even though batting, Hardik Pandya and he discussed the predicament and decided to comply with the ‘MS Dhoni plan’ of taking it to the finish of the inning and then chancing their arms in the death overs. Also, he revealed, that the boundary was shorter on 1 side of the ground and they decided to target that.
Despite him hanging his Team India jersey, MS Dhoni inspired the duo to develop the highest ever sixth-wicket partnership in India-Australia ODIs. Hardik Pandya remained unbeaten on 92 off 76 deliveries, even though Jadeja scored an unbeaten 66 off 50 balls to take the Indian score previous 300-run-mark immediately after they had lost 5 wickets in the 33rd more than and tottering at a score of 152 runs.
Thanks to the duo’s heroics and Shardul Thakur’s 3-wicket haul, India managed to pull off a 13-run win on Wednesday. Team India will appear to ride on the momentum in the 3-match T20 series that starts Friday at Manuka Oval, Canberra. The 3 T20s will be played on December 4, 6 and 8, and the second and third matches will be played at the SCG.