Internet Desk: India registered a comfortable victory in the fourth ODI which sees the visitors aiming for a clean sweep in the ongoing ODI series. MS Dhoni became the 6th Indian to play 300 ODI matches for his nation and he also became the current player with most not outs, a record 73 times. Dhoni scored 49* of 42 deliveries.
In the post match conference Manish Pandey highly lauded the former skipper by saying, “to see someone like that playing with you, to play 300 ODIs is a lot of experience. Like half the things you have probably learnt by looking at the way he conducts himself. Yeah its always inspirational, especially for a guy like me who started my career under him so its always good to be there and learn from him.”
“I have played a few games with him already now. I know how he plays, I know how he likes to rotate strike. I like to bat with somebody who loves to do that. Occasionally we get some boundaries and that’s how we keep the scoreboard ticking. With Mahi bhai, you are always on your toes and he keeps giving you advice.”
Rohit sharma and Virat Kohli both scored centuries to which Manish said, “The start was really really important. I think we did it really well given the fact that it was really hot. The guys were batting really good and were looking for boundaries, that’s what made us reach 375 today, those initial boundaries and the way Virat and Rohit batted and got their hundreds I thought they were really good and in the middle overs to come back again look for boundaries, it was little easier for us.
“Middle order is where I bat, starting from no.4 to no.6 I have batted for India, I have to be ready for whatever spot I get. So if I get a chance then I need to get some runs and cement that spot for myself and then if you keep performing and you keep playing better, then maybe you come one up in the order. So that will be my goal to fix a spot or two for myself and stay there and win games for India” said Manish on being questioned about his suitable batting position.
When asked about his mindset in the game he replied, “Mindset was to spend some time on the wicket first, like how many balls I should take initially. I need to take at least 6-10 balls to know what’s the wicket like and things like that. It was spinning a bit when the middle-order got out but as I said there was a plan to spend some time and that’s how I do it and eventually it came off well for me. There were wickets falling on the other side but I had to keep my calm and rotate the strike.”