Few handled pressure better than MS Dhoni, says Clarke

Injured Australian captain Michael Clarke has paid glowing tribute to his retiring Indian counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni, saying his sudden retirement from Test cricket after the Melbourne Test has created a hole that will be “hard to fill”. Clarke, who underwent surgery after injuring his hamstring in the opening Test against India at Adelaide, was effusive in his praise for his long-time rival.

“I can’t imagine there would be many jobs in international sport tougher than being the captain of India’s cricket team. I doubt many have dealt with the expectation, scrutiny, pressure and extreme adoration better than MS Dhoni,” Clarke wrote in his column for the Daily Telegraph. “How Dhoni has managed to hold down the captaincy while playing all three forms of the game and wicketkeeping is beyond me. He’s done a wonderful job and I think the hole he has left in the Test team will be hard to fill. I wish him all the best for all that lies ahead,” he said.