You haven't won the game until you get Dhoni out: Jimmy Neesham

Ahead of Sunday’s clash, New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham heaped praise on Dhoni and stated that the game isn’t won until Dhoni gets out

MS Dhoni has been declared fit to play the fifth ODI on Sunday in Wellington. After missing out on the previous two games, the veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batsman is likely to return for the final game while the hosts have begun gearing up to tackle the big man.

Ahead of Sunday’s clash, New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham heaped praise on Dhoni and stated that the game isn’t won until Dhoni gets out.

“His record speaks for itself. He is a fantastic player. I know there were some noises in the Indian media if he should be in the World Cup squad or not. He has got that calm demeanour in the middle-order. When you are bowling to him, you know you have not got the game won until you get him out,” said Neesham ahead of the fifth ODI.

Neesham is back after recovering from a hamstring injury and expects the ball to do a bit at the Westpac Stadium like it did in Hamilton where India were bowled out for 92.

“We sort of got conditions (at Hamilton) which suit us a little bit more, there was more swing in the air for Boulty (Trent Boult). Anytime, if you can knock over a team like India for 90 odd, you will be happy.

“But you never know what you are going to get here as pitch conditions go but look, we know the conditions are going to vary in different parts of the country and the world. We want to be a team which can perform in all conditions,” said Neesham.

India skipper Virat Kohli has been rested from the final two ODIs and the subsequent T20 series but Neesham feels the visitors remains a formidable force.

“Their top three average 20 runs more than any other pair. They have a lot of quality at the top despite Virat being rested. For us, it (Kohli' absence) is certainly not a case of being complacent. We have to bowl in the right areas like Boulty did the other day,” he said referring to Boult's five-wicket haul.

New Zealand have an average total of 207 at this venue over the last three years, indicating that batting is not easy on the surface. On the personal front, Neesham has been in good touch and was amongst the runs and wickets in the home series against Sri Lanka before injury ruled him out of the first three games against India.