India vs Australia 2nd Test 2008: Mahendra Singh Dhoni Awarded ‘Man of the Match’
You already know that India pulled off an emphatic 320-run victory over the visiting Australia in the second test at Mohali today. To be honest, I think, I was a perfect team effort that brought out such a confidence booster victory over Australia. There were two centurions- Sourav Ganguly and Gautam Gambhir- besides debutant Amit Mishra who picked up 9 wickets in the match with his excellent leg spin. However, the man who was instrumental in India’s excellent victory is none other than India’s stand-in captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who played two excellent innings it the match.
If it is Sourav Ganguly who provided India with a platform in the first innings with his century, then Dhoni is man who perfectly capitalized on the momentum given by Ganguly. Dhoni played a quick-fire 92 off 124 balls with 8 boundaries and 4 over boundaries. His aggressive batting gave a morale-denting feeling among the Australian bowlers that lasted in the second innings too. Dhoni played another timely innings of 68 off just 84 balls with 3 boundaries as well as 1 over boundary in the second innings. That innings was of great importance too because India needed to score quickly and declare the innings as early as possible after reaching a safe total. This is the performance of batsman Dhoni. Now, let us come to analyze the performance of captain Dhoni.
Dhoni was leading Indian team in this test in the absence of regular captain Anil Kumble who is injured out at this moment. Dhoni has certainly taken some crucial decisions that were later proved to be effective. When Mathew Hayden and Simon Katich started playing aggressively, chasing a winning target of 516, in the second innings, and put on 49 runs very quickly, Dhoni brought Harbhajan Singh into the attack just after 7 overs and the result is known to you all by now. Harbhajan Singh picked up two wickets in the same over, a blow that Australian batsmen never got over throughout the 2nd innings. Another crucial decision that Dhoni took came during India’s second innings. India needed to score as quickly as possible and Dhoni promoted himself to No. 3 position and played an impressive innings of 68 runs. So, there is no doubt, Dhoni was the perfect choice for the man of the match award.
