It's time for Dhoni & co to perform or perish

MS Dhoni and his boys are having a horrid time in Australia as despite putting up over 300 totals on the boards in the first two ODIs, it was chased easily by the hosts. In the five match series, the Men in Blue are two matches down and if lose another one will be all over for them.

In both the matches, the top order has set the platform for middle and order but the inability to score quickly in end overs and a dismissal show by the bowlers has been the real problem for India.

It is the last chance for MS Dhoni to secure his place in ODIs and might be also India playing its last series under him. It seems he has lost his midas touch, foe which he is famous. Till now he is the only skipper to have all ICC trophy in his casket.

India suffered its second defeat in row on Friday, when the Aussies chased down 308 runs with ease. In the first match also Steve Smith and George Bailey set the winning tone for the hosts.

On both occasions, India failed to accelerate in death overs and none of the bowlers being able to contain the free-scoring Aussies.

In the second ODI, Barinder Sran, was the only bowler who recorded a maiden over, while everybody else, including R Ashwin and Indian pacers, went for over six runs an over.

The main problem has been failure of spinners on flat tracks and inability to take wickets in middle overs. The Aussies are playing the middle overs quietly and not giving any easy wickets to spinners. Both Ashwin and Jadeja have not done anything good on the flat tracks. Which exposed their incapability outside sub-continent.

Both the ODIs have finished in last overs and Indian bowlers have given 23 extras which proved costly for them.  Not only pace bowlers but spinners also are guilty of bowling extras.

It could be last match for opener Shikhar Dhawan also as he is consistently failing, first against South Africa and then in Australia. Rohit Sharma has scored two consecutive centuries but in losing course. In a way, he is guilty of playing for records, not for the team as he is taking too much in nervous 90s. Keeping the bowling attack in mind, India need quick fire half-centuries rather than big centuries.

Dhoni needs pull up his socks and take the responsibility to bat in the end overs. In the third ODI at Melbourne, India can try Gurkeerat Singh Mann and Rishi Dhawan in place of Jadeja and Umesh Yadav to bolster the lower order.

It’s time for many Indian players to perform or perish as a young lot is getting ready to take over their place as openers like KL Rahul, Naman Ojha are waiting to grab the chance. 

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