New Delhi: Australian all-rounder John Hastings credited Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for filling a player with a lot of confidence. Hastings played under Dhoni for the now-suspended Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.


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Australia are in the same pool as India and Hastings says the confidence in the Indian team comes from the skipper.


"There's little margin for error in this format. Their batsmen have a lot of confidence right through from Dhawan and (Rohit) Sharma to Kohli, Raina and then there's Dhoni coming in. I think that stems from the captain. Having played under Dhoni in Chennai, he just fills you with a lot of confidence. I am assuming that what he is doing with youngsters," Hastings said.


The Australia international was in full praise for the Indian cricket team and says they are in really good form.


"It was a young group that has become a little bit older and are all backing themselves and are full of confidence. I just think they are all in really good form," he said.


The 30-year-old, who made his ODI debut against India in Visakhapatnam in 2010, said his knowledge of the conditions in India was a key factor in him being selected.


"I was also part of the 2011 World Cup here but I didn't play a game but learnt a lot on those tours. I feel I do have that experience now. That's probably why I have been selected to this Australia team."


Hastings was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the upcoming season of the IPL.


(With PTI inputs)