India vs Australia | MS Dhoni is a superstar of the game, says Justin Langer
Justin Langer lavished praise on Man of the Series MS Dhoni as he asked his own players to step up and replicate the performances of their Indian opponents in the coming months. Langer added that if the home team could have capitalised on missed chances the result could have been different.
Former Indian World Cup winning captain MS Dhoni turned back the clock with his stunning performance in the series finale at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday as India outplayed the hosts and won the limited-overs series 2-1. Dhoni chipped in with a steady 87 off 114 deliveries which
Justin Langer, coach of the home team, has lavished praise on the veteran Indian wicket-keeper who was also adjudged as the Man of the Series Down Under. Langer added that Dhoni gave his young side a tutorial as to how to go about chasing a decent target on the board.
"He (Dhoni) is 37 years old. His running between the wickets is elite, and his fitness is elite. For him to run between the wickets for three days in a row, it was 40 degrees the other day, and play like that, he is a superstar of the game and that's what Australians should be aspiring to be -- superstars of the game.
"MS Dhoni, like Virat Kohli, like Cheteshwar Pujara in the Test series, they give us really great role models. MS Dhoni, his record, everything speaks for itself as a captain, batsman, wicketkeeper. He is literally an all-time great of the game and it has been, as hard as it is to lose, a privilege to play against those guys," Langer told PTI sources.
The 37-year-old was dropped on 0 and 74 and ended the match unbeaten as Kedar Jadhav hit the winning runs in the third ODI of the series. Langer was adamant that if his side had capitalised on those missed opportunities, the end result would have definitely been different.
"You drop MS Dhoni a couple of times and you don't win. You don't give great players chances. We did that tonight. We get down the 49th over and MS is there again. It was a great lesson for our squad. We talk about match winners, getting the job done -- he showed us again. It is a great tutorial for our batters.
"If MS Dhoni can come out and run between wickets like that after keeping wickets for 50 overs, that is the level the whole world should be aspiring to. I would be amazed if they (Australian players) don't learn from playing against those guys. For a young squad, there is no better lesson and learning to rub shoulders with great players. I'm glad we have had the experience," Langer added.