After India’s opener Shikhar Dhawan, bowling coach Bharat Arun has also spoken on the same lines. Arun believes it is not fair to compare a rookie player like Rishabh Pant with MS Dhoni. Pant committed some errors in the fourth ODI at Mohali for which he was booed by the crowd. Subsequently, the greenhorn Delhi player had to face the backlash of the fans.
Pant had the missed the stumping against Ashton Turner which costed India the game. However, Pant is still new to the International circuit and he will take some time to hit the ground running. Pant still has a lot of work to do on his wicketkeeping skills and it is understandable that he will improve with experience.
On the other hand, MS Dhoni has been a master and is the jack of all trades. Dhoni has all the experience under his belt and he is one of the best in the business.
“Unfair to compare Dhoni and Pant. Dhoni’s stature is huge. He is a legend. His work behind the stumps is exemplary,” Bharat Arun said on the eve of the decider.
“MSD is a huge influence on the team. We will be trying out different combinations. Not necessarily these combinations will be in the World Cup. Any mistakes, hiccups have to be now. We are extremely cautious,” he said.
Meanwhile, India could not defend 358 runs in the last match. Thus, Arun wants to focus on the weaker points of the team. India’s bowling coach also credited the whirlwind knock of Ashton Turner who scored a majestic 43-ball 84.
“If you see, the success of our bowlers has been more than 75 per cent. These things do happen (last game) and I am happy that it happened now and it shows us areas where we can improve before the World Cup.
“You should give credit to the knock Ashton played. Dew played a crucial role — but I am not trying to give excuses. We didn’t bowl as well we had planned for him, but we will come back stronger.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli was demoted to the number four position in the previous match. There are talks doing the rounds that Kohli can bat at number four in the World Cup. Bharat Arun revealed that this is the last opportunity for them to try out different combinations.
“This is the only time we can try combinations. Kohli has been absolutely successful at No.3 and we are trying options before the World Cup.
“Definitely there are certain areas we need to address both in batting and bowling. We have been thrown in areas we need to work on and that is a great learning experience before the World Cup.”
India will look to seal the series in Delhi. The hosts will want to come up with the collective effort in the decider of the series, which will take place on 13th March.