Dhoni-Kohli batting together will be the biggest threat to any team: McCullum

New Delhi, Oct 27: Former New Zealand skipper and batsman Brendon McCullum backed MS Dhoni's decision to promote himself up in the order is a positive move for the Indian cricket team.

MS Dhoni tops batsmen with highest averages in successful ODI chases

According to McCullum, if India's limited overs skipper comes higher in the batting order and gets to bat along side his deputy Virat Kohli, then the duo are going to be most dangerous for the opponents.

"You have got two very experienced cricketers who are very calm under pressure and know how to win games. Chasing scores is not easy and they understand the art of it," McCullum said about the Kohli-Dhoni combination.

Dhoni-Kohli are best chasers in the world:

Both Dhoni and Kohli are top finishers in ODIs in world cricket. They average best while chasing a target and have finished tight games for their side. Stats show, India win just 30 percent of the games in which either of the two fail to score 50+ runs.

"The other teams will hope that they don't bat together too often but for India's sake, you are enjoying the fact that two of your leaders are performing in pressure situations," said the 35-year-old former New Zealand skipper.

Dhoni is a terrific leader: McCullum

McCullum, who played under Dhoni in the IPL, is a great admirer of latter's leadership skills and feels his focus on limited overs means he can be equally impactfull.

"He is a terrific leader. Now that he doesn't play Tests and his focus is squarely on limited overs means he can have more impact in the game. That is why probably he has pushed himself up in the batting order. And he has delivered. That is what world class players do," reckoned McCullum.

Coming in at No.4 in the third match at Mohali, Dhoni not only scored 80 runs but more importantly forged an 151-run stand with Kohli to set the tone of the emphatic seven wicket win over the Kiwis.

However, this wasn't the case during 4th ODI at at Ranchi where the skipper walked into bat after Kohli departed at 45 and the skipper didn't get the expected stability from the other end as well set Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed for 57.

Consequently Dhoni too perished at 11 after consuming 31 balls and India eventually lost the match by a margin of 19 runs.

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