MS Dhoni doubtful for first ODI against Australia: The Indian wicket-keeper batsman suffered an injury during practice session.
Former India batsman and current wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni has suffered an injury scare ahead of the first ODI against Australia to be played tomorrow at Hyderabad. The same happened during India’s practice session today.
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Going by reports in Hindustan Times, MS Dhoni was hit on his right forearm as he was taking throwdowns from team’s support staff member Raghavendra.
It is believed that inconsistent bounce on a delivery from Raghavendra deceived the veteran cricketer as he received a blow on his forearm. Dhoni was then seen in a considerable amount of pain and didn’t resume batting after getting hit.
It is worth mentioning that there has been no official announcement on Dhoni from the Indian team management. There is no hiding the to fact that the team management would be wanting Dhoni to play the first ODI.
India looking to make a comeback
With India already getting whitewashed in the T20I series, they would be hoping to turn the tables on Australia in the ODI series. Since the five-match series is their last international assignment before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, the Indian team would be looking to put their best foot forward.
If MS Dhoni misses the first match, he will become the second player after Hardik Pandya to get injured ahead of the ODI series. Should he miss the first ODI, wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant might come into the side as a replacement for the 37-year old cricketer.
Having scored 193 runs in three matches at an average of 193 and a strike rate of 73.10 including three half-centuries, Dhoni was elected the ‘Man of the Series’ for the seventh time in his ODI career during the ODI series in Australia. Having last won it in 2011, it took Dhoni more than seven years to earn another such award.
