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India vs Sri Lanka 2014: MS Dhoni gets much-needed break ahead of Australia tour

The Indian team that has been announced has a fine mix of youth and experience.

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MS Dhoni isplaying continuous cricket in this year © IANS
MS Dhoni has captained India in 166 One-Day internationals © IANS

India captain MS Dhoni will not be a part of the team that takes on Sri Lanka in the first three One-Day Internationals (ODIs). While the Indian captain has got an unlikely break in event of the West Indies pulling out of India tour, this will give him a golden opportunity to recuperate and channelise his energies well. Devarchit Varma has more.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shook the cricket world when its all-powerful Working Committee decided to pursue a legal case against West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and also suspended bilateral cricket relations with the Caribbean team. BCCI, famous for its domination over the world cricket was expected to be harsh, but suspension of the bilateral cricket ties was not many had thought about.

They say, one man’s loss is the other man’s gain, as the pullout of West Indies was marked with a rapid acceptance by Sri Lanka to come down to India for a five-match ODI series. Looking at the form in which the island nation’s team has been, an exciting contest is certainly on the cards with the two Asian rivals — importantly the finalists of the ICC World Cup 2011 — clashing in the known in favourable conditions before heading towards Australia and New Zealand for ICC World Cup 2015.

The Indian team that has been announced has a fine mix of youth and experience, but most importantly, it will be without the services of MS Dhoni. Had West Indies not pulled out, Dhoni would have gone through the rigour and grind of three Tests, a T20I and an ODI, all part of West Indies’ tour. He will certainly be thankful for all that has transpired in the hindsight, as he has been virtually on road from the beginning of the tour of England.

While the England tour was another tough one for Indians in regards to Test cricket, Dhoni showed he can not only survive but also surprise. He applied himself with the bat and Dhoni made a strong point that despite lacking on many fronts, he can do well. If his batting performance in England is anything to go by, Dhoni would be expected to do better Down Under. This break before the team heads to Australia would certainly give the overworked Indian captain some time to keep his feet up and relax, analyse where he and his team is headed, and plan better for the tour to Australia as they return home only after ICC World Cup 2015.

The Australia tour will be a test the mental part of the Indian cricketers to a large extent. Dhoni, for whom process and application are vital, will be the man to watch out for in these regards. In all likelihood he will be playing only two ODIs in November — in case if India recall him for the last two matches versus Sri Lanka. This means that the Indian captain should be completely fit for the Australian tour that starts December 4.

(Devarchit Varma is a reporter with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)

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