Australia vs India 2018-19: Australians Should Aspire to be Like MS Dhoni, Reckons Justin Langer

Australia head coach Justin Langer showered heaps of praise on former Indian National Cricket team skipper MS Dhoni after the latter helped India clinch their maiden bilateral series win on Australian soil.

Meanwhile, Dhoni (87*) partnered Kedar Jadhav (61*) to see off the modest target set by the hosts. Previously, Yuzvendra Chahal rattled the Aussie batting returning with figures of 6 for 42. Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar also chipped in two wickets each. Praising MS Dhoni, Justin Langer admitted that he is a role model and at the same time a superstar of the game.

“He 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,” Langer said at the post-match press conference.

All-time great of the game

MS Dhoni, with his three back-to-back centuries, has shut all the critics who questioned his spot in the team. Although his first half-century went in vain, he made the last two knock finishes on a winning note. Justin Langer noted that it was a great learning curve for his young Australian team.

“If M S 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,” he added.

In conclusion, Justin Langer stated that it was a very close series against a solid Indian team. He also added that they will take confidence from this series going into the next series.

“It has not been a one-sided series. India have been too good for us all summer, in Tests and in ODIs. But it has been a close one. The boys have fought hard and we have had some real positives. Jhye Richardson has been a shining light. Peter Handscomb has done a good job in the middle overs and Shaun Marsh has been in great nick. We had our chances and we just didn’t take them.”

“India are a great side. We should take some great confidence with the way we played against them. If we had taken our chances in Adelaide, this series could have been different. There is light at the end of the tunnel for this team. We can look at the wins and losses, but they will come good,” he signed off.