MS Dhoni, James Neesham, India vs New Zealand 2019
MS Dhoni. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

New Zealand all-rounder James Neesham believes a team hasn’t won the game till it has got MS Dhoni out. Dhoni, who is regarded as the best finisher in the game will be back into India’s playing XI in the fifth ODI against New Zealand. The star stumper had to miss the previous two matches due to a sore hamstring.

Meanwhile, India’s batting coach Sanjay Bangar has confirmed that Dhoni is back to full fitness and he will be in the last XI of the final match. In fact, MS Dhoni is back into form which is a big boost for the side. Dhoni has thus far scored 241 runs in the four innings of 2019.

India vs New Zealand 2019: You Haven't Won the Game Till You Have Got MS Dhoni Out - James Neesham
MS Dhoni (Credits: BCCI)

Dhoni is going to be back.

The talisman batsman had scored three consecutive fifties on the tour of Australia. Thus, he was awarded the Man of the series award. The former Indian skipper has rotated the strike with more aplomb.

“His [Dhoni’s] records speak for itself. I mean, he is a fantastic player. Some noise was made especially from Indian media about whether he should be there in their World Cup squad or not. But as I said, his record speaks for itself,” Neesham said on Saturday in the pre-match press conference.

“He’s got that calm demeanor in the middle order. And when you’re bowling to him, you know you haven’t won the game till you’ve got him out. Hopefully, we can do that tomorrow and run through them tomorrow”.

New Zealand made a strong comeback in the fourth ODI where they bundled out the visitors for a paltry score of 92 runs. Neesham is hopeful that his team will be able to replicate the same performance against the Indian juggernauts.

India vs New Zealand 2019: You Haven't Won the Game Till You Have Got MS Dhoni Out - James Neesham
Jimmy Neesham (Credits – AFP)

“Stats speak for themselves. In the last two years, their top three averages 20 odd more than any other country in the world. They have obviously got a whole lot of quality at the top there,” Neesham said.

“And Virat is resting but there is a lot of wraps on the rest of their top order as well. So there is certainly not a case of getting complacent. We just have to put the ball in the right areas again… as Boult did in Hamilton… and hopefully run through them again.”

India will like to pull up their socks in the final ODI at Wellington on 3rd February after their dismal show in the previous match. The return of MS Dhoni will be a big boost as he is high on confidence. Subsequently, it would be interesting to note who Dhoni will replace in the final XI. Shubman Gill or Dinesh Karthik might have to make way for the former captain.

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