Dhoni, Yuvi yet to make a mark in Australia

Sydney: Most of the Indian batting line-up has redeemed itself in Sydney but what about its poster boys? Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni still have to prove themselves against the world's best Test team.

Brett Lee removed a hapless Yuvraj Singh, for a man who till very recently middled all that was thrown at him, three innings on tour have so far brought a mere 17 runs at a dismal average of 5.66.

But if anything, Dhoni's record is worse - 13 runs in three innings at under 5 per innings tells its own tale. So, is the dressing room concerned?

"This can happen to any player in the world. Couple of innings here and there you don't score runs, doesn't mean that you get back and start worrying about your batting. They are confident guys and they will hit back," assured Sachin Tendulkar.

Yuvraj though has made headlines for the wrong reasons - targeted by the Australian media, the usually vivacious left-hander has been lethargic and shockingly, sometimes even untidy on the field.

Perhaps Yuvraj is feeling the pressure of the talk that says that the team has bend over backwards to accommodate him in the middle-order. Virender Sehwag has been kept out of the playing XI, Rahul Dravid has been asked to open the innings and V V S Laxman was pushed up the order to No. 3, all so that Yuvraj could play.

Dhoni's place isn't up for debate but as vice-captain he must surely be feeling the heat. After all, he came to Australia with a formidable reputation and spoke confidently of success with the bat.

"I have played in the sub-continental conditions and then have been to a few countries where the bounce have been more. The expert say that if you get set here you are on for a big score, especially the players who love to play their strokes," said Dhoni before the start of the Four-Test match series.

There is no doubt that Dhoni and Yuvraj are the future of Indian cricket. The mantle will be passed on to these two when the golden generation walks away. And all of India will be willing them on to succeed soon in Australia so that they can add another feather to their already formidable cap.