KHURRAM HABIB

PORTELIZABETH: With the top order and spinners going well for India in the first three games, the failure of the middle order didn’t look conspicuous.

However, when the spinners wilted under pressure in the last game at Wanderers, India’s inability to get a big total stood exposed.

In an age when 300 isn’t considered a safe total due to battingfriendly conditions, a good finish is necessary.

Over the last two games, the India No 4, 5 and 7 have struggled, putting the focus and pressure on MS Dhoni who batted at No 6.

While he failed at Cape Town (10 off 22 balls) as Kohli carried India past 300, he made an unbeaten 42 (43 balls) at Johannesburg to take India to 289. Though it is harsh to dismiss Dhoni’s effort, there is no denying that had he shown a bit more urgency, it may have helped India post a more imposing target.

Over the last 20 innings where he has played at least 20 balls, Dhoni has had a strike rate of over 100 only thrice. It has been below that on 17 other occasions. While there have been instances like in Mumbai against New Zealand and in Chennai against Australia, where he came in with India struggling (144/4 and 87/5 respectively) and had to dig deep, there have also been instances, like in the last two games, when the need was to hit out and he failed.

Compare that to his early days.