Australian cricketers’ praise for MS Dhoni: The Australian cricketers were seen throwing accolades on the former Indian captain.

The imminent ODI series between Australia and India is highly likely to be the last trip as a cricketer for former India captain and current wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni. In what will be Dhoni’s fifth tour to Australia, the 37-year old cricketer would be wanting to finish it on a high down under.

Despite being in arguably the worst ODI form of his career, Dhoni is still considered as a threat for the opposition chiefly due to his reputation. Given his mere presence on the field has it in it to change the course of the game for India, the hosts will not be taking him lightly.

Having proved his mettle over the years, Dhoni is one of those cricketers who is respected in the cricketing fraternity across the globe. The Australian cricketers throwing accolades at him ahead of the first ODI was an epitome of the same.

Australian cricketers’ praise for MS Dhoni

Australia Test captain Tim Paine claimed Dhoni to be ‘one of the best wicketkeeper-batsmen to ever play the game’. Paine also lauded Dhoni’s ability to ‘keep things simple’ during a match.

“I think he is one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen to ever play the game. He is right up there, no doubt about that, particularly in white-ball cricket. Hopefully, he doesn’t get too many runs but it’s certainly going to be nice to have him here for a little bit. I’m happy I won’t be out there against him,” Paine said.

“What I do love about watching him play, whether he is batting or keeping and captaining, he keeps things very simple. That’s just from what I can see. Cricket is very complicated game and I’ve enjoyed watching him really simplify it still in this modern age. He just looks like he does the basics pretty well, stays real relaxed and – at his age from the pressure he would be under in India and around the world – he looks like he just loves playing cricket,” he added.

Fast bowler Pat Cummins praised Dhoni’s ‘on-field persona’. “I think my main memory of Dhoni is just his persona on the field. You’ve seen him winning IPL tournaments, World Cups, Test matches, incredible victories, and he just picks up the stump and walks off [like] nothing happened.

“Winning games from impossible positions and he just seems like the most level, calm captain when he’s captaining, just play, nothing seems too big a deal, and just can pull things out of his hat like no one else. He’s a great ambassador for cricket, being an idol to a billion Indian people back home and he’s hugely respected around the world,” Cummins was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Batsman Usman Khawaja, who had played under Dhoni at Rising Pune Supergiant, opined that both he and Dhoni play in a similar fashion. “He’s obviously a legend of a cricketer but he’s such a good bloke and so relaxed. I love playing cricket with him and on the same team because I think we’re quite similar in the way we play,” Khawaja said.

“He concentrates on the controllables, doesn’t worry about the rest, doesn’t let a lot faze him, understands there’s a lot of up and downs in cricket and I think he’s experienced that throughout his career and the way he plays and the way he goes about it.

“He’s one of the guys I really enjoy playing with and he’s such a good bloke, so yeah there’ll be a big crowd to see him probably one last time in Australia,” said the left-hander,” the southpaw added.

Apart from praising Dhoni’s ledership, Australia ODI captain Aaron Finch went on to add that it will be a ‘sad day’ if Dhoni doesn’t come back to Australia after this tour. “I think the way that he’s led India under the most extreme cricket scrutiny for a long time has been unbelievable,” Finch said.

“I think that he’s obviously one of the all-time greats of the game. It will be a sad day if he doesn’t come back to Australia after this tour, he’s a brilliant entertainer and someone that people pay money to come through the gates to watch,” Finch concluded.