Australia vs India 2018-19: MS Dhoni is One of the Best Wicket-keeper-Batsmen to Ever Play the Game - Tim Paine

Tim Paine, Australia’s Test skipper, has shared high praise for former Indian National Cricket team skipper MS Dhoni, who prepares to play Down Under for potentially the last time. Meanwhile, Dhoni returned to the squad after missing the Windies series and T20Is against Australia.

MS Dhoni, who was going through a rough patch with the bat, will be keen to hit the right chords in the upcoming three-match ODI series. The Indian team management will want Dhoni to fire with the ICC World Cup in few months time. Despite a poor form, Tim Paine hailed Dhoni saying that he is one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen to have graced the cricketing field.

“I think he is one of the best wicketkeeper-batsmen to ever play the game,” Tim Paine told cricket.com.au. “He is right up there, no doubt about that, particularly in white-ball cricket. Hopefully, he doesn’t get too many runs but it’s certainly going to be nice to have him here for a little bit. I’m happy I won’t be out there against him,” he added.

No one has led their country on more occasions than Dhoni, who has captained India 332 times across the three formats. As skipper, MS Dhoni steered India to the No.1 Test ranking in 2009, the 2011 ICC World Cup and the 2007 World T20 title. Tim Paine praised how the Jharkhand cricketer conducts himself on the field.

“What I do love about watching him play, whether he is batting or keeping and captaining, he keeps things very simple,” Paine said.

“That’s just from what I can see. Cricket is very complicated game and I’ve enjoyed watching him really simplify it still in this modern age. He just looks like he does the basics pretty well, stays real relaxed and – at his age from the pressure he would be under in India and around the world – he looks like he just loves playing cricket,” Paine concluded.

The three-match ODI series will commence on January 12 (Saturday) at the Sydney Cricket Ground.