New Delhi:
The year 2018 was a rough one for MS Dhoni, the former Indian cricket team captain. He did not score a single fifty and his finishing prowess seemed to be on the wane. However, 2019 has given Dhoni good news as he entered a very special club. With India losing Shikhar Dhawan (0), Virat Kohli (3) and Ambati Rayudu (0) cheaply, Dhoni came in with Rohit Sharma and in the sixth over bowled by Jason Behrendorff, the Indian wicketkeeper got an inside edge to square leg for a single. The run helped Dhoni reach 10,000 runs for India as wicketkeeper.
Dhoni had scored 174 runs in three games for Asia XI against Africa XI in 2007 and he was stuck on 9999 runs during the ODI series against West Indies which India won 3-1. The former India skipper, who captained the side to victories in the 2007 World T20, 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy, is only the second wicketkeeper batsman in ODI history to go past 10,000 runs. Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara leads the list with 13341 runs at an average of 43.74.
Read More | India vs Australia, 1st ODI live cricket score: Kohli goes for 3
The Jharkhand right-hander has endured a tough time in 2018, managing just 275 runs at an average of just 25. In the series against South Africa, his highest score was 42* in the Johannesburg ODI but in the England series, his finishing prowess seemed to be on the wane. His knocks of 37 and 42 were achieved at a strike-rate of just over 65 and it was a crucial factor in India losing their only bilateral series in the year.
Read More | Bhuvneshwar Kumar takes 100th wicket in Sydney ODI vs Australia
However, the Indian wicketkeeper is considered to be an integral member of the 2019 World Cup which will be held in England, which is expected to be his final international assignment.
The first ODI between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground started off well for the hosts with fifties from Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja propelling them to 288/5. In response, India started off on a disastrous note when they lost Shikhar Dhawan (0), Virat Kohli (3) and Ambati Rayudu (0) all falling cheaply. This was the second time since Adelaide 2004 against Zimbabwe that the Indian top-order had lost three wickets in quick manner.
