Mahendra Singh Dhoni: Indian skipper will hope middle-order comes good against Aussies

India had lost two crucial ODI series last year and their batting often lacked the fluidity and calmness required in the middle.

New Delhi: India's limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will hope his team's middle-order comes to life against world champions Australia in the upcoming ODI series starting from January 12.

India had lost two crucial ODI series against Bangladesh and South Africa last year and their batting often lacked the fluidity and calmness required in the middle.

With struggling Suresh Raina left out of the ODI squad, MS Dhoni will have to shoulder the responsibility in ensuring solidity and assuarance in the middle.

Dhoni has been a calm finisher throughout his career and the series against Australia holds huge importance given the fact that the Aussie bowlers will look to tie India down.

Alongside Ajinkya Rahane, Dhoni is the only experienced batsman in the middle-order as India will look to play either Manish Pandey or an all-rounder in Gurkeerat Singh. Both these players are inexperienced in international scenario and will hope to get some valuable tips from the skipper.

The visitors need their batsmen to get some vital runs in the middle and Australia provides that perfect chance. India didn't perform well against Australia in the last ODI series and also lost in the semi-final of the World Cup to the same opponents.

The middle-order had struggled to find momentum which intensified India's losses and this is the time the side will hope to rectify its mistakes and put up a good show.

Dhoni who has two half-centuries from eight ODIs post the World Cup, will look forward to his consistency in big games against a challenging Australian outfit.