MS Dhoni's 'golden failure' puts India in a spot of bother in Nagpur ODI

Before the start of the second ODI against Australia at the VCA stadium in Jamtha, all eyes were on MS Dhoni and his impressive record at the venue and in the last couple of months. Dhoni has an average of over 130 at the VCA stadium and his first century in ODIs against Australia came at this venue in 2009. In the last couple of months, the cricketing world has seen a resurgence in Dhoni's finishing prowess and his consistency in accumulating runs in the death overs. Heading into the Nagpur ODI, Dhoni had scores of 51,55*,87*,48*,1,59*. His three unbeaten have come when India has been chasing and they have managed to overhaul the target successfully. In the Nagpur ODI, Virat Kohli's magnificent 50^th fifty had put India on course for a good score but Australia chipped away with wickets at regular intervals and the former India skipper came to bat in the 33^rd over after Kedar Jadhav was dismissed by legspinner Adam Zampa for 11. 

However, in the first ball he faced, Dhoni played back to a quicker delivery that skidded through and he looked to steer it to third man but the outside edge was taken by Usman Khawaja resulted in Dhoni being dismissed for a golden duck. The silence and the shock of the crowd in Jamtha spoke about how rare this failure has come for Dhoni at a time when he is enjoying a good run. 

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The golden duck dismissal for Dhoni was the fifth time that he had suffered this fate in ODIs. His very first instance was on debut against Bangladesh in 2004 at Dhaka when he was run-out with his first ball in international cricket. He has been dismissed for a golden duck twice against Sri Lanka with the first instance coming in 2005 in the Ahmedabad ODI. His next instance came in the 2007 World Cup encounter at Port of Spain in which India lost to Sri Lanka to get eliminated from the tournament. 

His fourth instance came in 2010 against Australia in then second ODI in Vizag. In the three-match series in which the first and third ODIs were washed away due to rain, India got one over Australia in the Vizag ODI. Although Dhoni fell for a golden duck, Kohli scored a century as India secured an ODI series win against Australia at home for the first time in 23 years. 

Although Dhoni may have fallen cheaply, India still have depth in Ravindra Jadeja and with Kohli on course for a big score, Australia still have an uphill task to restrict India to a total under 250 on a wicket that is assisting the spinners. India are currently leading the five-match series 1-0 after winning the Hyderabad ODI by six wickets.  

HIGHLIGHTS

• MS Dhoni was dismissed for a golden duck for the fifth time.
• This was the second time he was dismissed for a golden duck against Australia.
• MS Dhoni averaged over 100 in ODIs in Nagpur.