AGENCIES
MELBOURNE
Of all the stats that flew by him in the second one-day international against Australia at the Gabba, only one concerned Indian captain MS Dhoni. What now makes a winning ODI total?
Dhoni had every right to be baffled after Australia nabbed a 2-0 ODI series lead with a seven-wicket win on Friday night. George Bailey (76 not out) helped Australia reel in India's 308-8 with six balls to spare - a new Gabba ODI run chase record.
India became only the third team in ODI history to fail to defend a 300-plus total in back-to-back games. But Dhoni reckoned he had figured out the stat he was after following the humbling loss. He believed 330 was now the ideal total on Australia's bouncy decks.
"We now have two options," Dhoni said. "Either put pressure on (our) batsmen and score 330 or chase down the score. We will have a look and decide what suits us the best (for the third ODI in Melbourne on Sunday)."
In a bid to kick-start their run rate even further, Dhoni appeared tempted to replace out-of-sorts opener Shikhar Dhawan with Ajinkya Rahane at the top of the order on Sunday. After Dhawan (six) fell cheaply for the second straight game, Rahane (89 off 80) was inspirational as he combined with Rohit Sharma (124) in a 121-run third wicket stand.
"Jinx (Rahane) has improved a lot in his batting," Dhoni said. "What is important is to see him when the wickets slow down and he is pushed to play the big shots.
"We will wait and watch and see what the best position for him is. I have personally believed he is very good opener because he plays proper cricketing shots."
Yet Dhoni still appeared to have Dhawan's back. "If somebody plays shots from the very start, there will be periods when he won't score runs," he said. "You can say it was a rash shot (on Friday) but that's the time you are supposed to back your stroke players."
Despite spinners Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja going for a combined 239-3 in their 37 overs to date this series, Dhoni did not entertain replacing either with uncapped all-rounder Rishi Dhawan in Melbourne.
"In the middle overs you need to bowl a lot of dot balls," he said. "That's where you have to decide whether you are better off playing with the two spinners. It is slightly difficult for somebody like Rishi to come in."
