Street-smart approach - secret to Dhoni's success: Gilchrist

Mumbai: India limited-overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s unique technique is what makes him one of the best wicketkeepers in the modern era, believes Australian legend Adam Gilchrist.

Gilchrist, who has won three consecutive World Cups (1999, 2003, 2007), was present in Mumbai to award Vignesgwaran Subramani, an Indian student who is studying at the Wollongong University in Australia, with the prestigious Bradman Foundation scholarship.

Speaking exclusively to Deccan Chronicle after the felicitation, Gilchrist heaped praises on Dhoni.

“There’s only one textbook that has MS Dhoni’s keeping (style) in it, and he’s the only one who’s read it,” said Gilchrist.

“He has forged his own technique. He does not follow the traditional keeper’s technique. And that’s not a criticism, that’s a compliment,” said Gilchrist, who himself was arguably one of the best wicketkeepers during his era.

“He’s very effective and street-smart. I think he’s the quickest stumper that I’ve ever seen. You can have a perfect textbook technique and miss a stumping because you’re a bit slow,” said Gilchrist. “But he gets the ball back to the stumps, and he has pinched a few dismissals just by the pace of his hand.”

‘Individual approach key to succeed in India tour’

The Australian Test side have been having a torrid time, losing all of their last four Tests (three in Sri Lanka and on in Perth against South Africa).

However, Gilchrist, who is fondly called ‘Gilly’, believes that the Australian side is going through a transition period, and will not take long to get back to their usual flawless form.

“The Australian cricket team is clearly a team that’s still learning a bit about itself under a relatively new captain. In Michael Clarke, we’ve just lost another sort of Hall of Famer, a sort of 120-Test type player, so that’s a big hole to fill.”

Teams from Australia, South Africa and England always find it a bit difficult to play in the sub-continent. When asked about what kind of preparation the Aussies could take ahead of their series in India, next year, Gilchrist said: “You have to know your own game and work at what approach you have to take.

“Is not a blanket policy, so I can’t say that everyone must sweep, or everyone mustn’t sweep. Use your feet, or don’t use your feet. Some do, some don’t. It’s all in your mind,” he continued. “Is it going to be an aggressive approach, or is it going to be a patient one? It might be a blend of both. That would be my word of advice.”