India has unearthed serious talent in Dhoni

It is an ominous sign that India is scaling 350 on the board and yet quite a few of their key batsmen are out of form, writes Javed Miandad.

It is an ominous sign that India is scaling 350 on the board and yet quite a few of their key batsmen are out of form: Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif have all not been amongst runs. To the largely two faced Indian batting of Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid have now been added the third dimension of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

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This boy won points on all counts: technique and temperament; daring and fitness. He withstood some sharp tongue-lashing from Pakistan bowlers and then unfolded a searing range of stroke play.

It was audacious yet judicious; his willingness to hit was matched in equal by his desire to stay long at the crease. And let's not forget his keeping which was equally brilliant: the leg-side catch; the near stumpings of Shoaib Malik and Yousuf Youhana; the low catch of Rana Naved-ul Hasan. India has unearthed a serious talent who would add balance and energy to the side.

In promoting Dhoni to number three, India seems keen to invest in future. Pakistan, on the other hand, is still carrying on with its 'life members'. It is now eighth match in row when they have failed to find an answer to Virender Sehwag. He's smashing them at will, he could wristily flick the same delivery to midwicket fence which, if his mood takes over, he is steering through vacant third man.

Mohammad Sami, Naved and Abdul Razzaq are meat and drink to him; their threat to him is no bigger than that of a water-pistol. He's roasting them over the coals; yet the bowlers are not even seen attempting something different. They come, pay their dues, and turn up at the appointed hour in the next match to do it all over again!