'No statement to make on my batting up the order'

Nagpur:

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday made it clear that he did not want to make any statement with his bat to anyone about his batting order but said his match-winning 124 against Australia in second ODI here was a special one because it came against the world's top team.

"It was just a special innings against the world's best team. Nothing more than that. All of my centuries are my favourites," said Dhoni at the post-match press conference when asked about the suggestions by former players that he should bat up the order.

Dhoni, as he did on Tuesday, explained that the first four slots in the order - Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh - cannot be disturbed and it was more or less a set order.

Dhoni said he initially with Gautam and then with Suresh Raina took full advantage of the good platform laid by the top order batsmen to help India raise a record total against Australia.

"When I batted with Gauti (Gautam Gambhir) our idea was to cut out risks as already the run rate was six an over. Even if it had dropped down to five if we could have enough wickets in hand we could take advantage of the second power play and carry that momentum into the slog overs. That was our plan," said Dhoni after powering India to a series-levelling 99-run victory over Australia

Dhoni and Gambhir, who came together at 97 for three in the 16th over, ran their singles and twos hard and, after the latter's fall in the 34th over, the Indian skipper and Raina simply took the Australian attack by its scruff to add 116 runs in the last eleven overs and 39 in the five-over batting power play.

Dhoni also praised all his bowlers for the splendid job they did and said it was a fine team effort that fetched them the comprehensive victory.

About Ishant Sharma, who bowled a fiery spell and made the ball bounce at pace, Dhoni said that the lanky bowler seemed to have rediscovered his rhythm.

"When he has got back his rhythm you can see he also bowls fast," said Dhoni who was adjudged man of the match for his 107-ball 124 which propelled India to 354 for seven - their highest against Australia - after being put into bat.