'Listen, we need you to bat 4.5 hours' - Stuart Binny recalls what MS Dhoni told him in his debut Test

Indian all-rounder Stuart Binny played very few games at the International level, however, he did have some key contributions. On 17 June 2014 in an ODI against Bangladesh, Binny secured six wickets conceding only four runs surpassing Anil Kumble to have the best bowling record for any Indian bowler. Though he could not capitalize on the opportunities he got, his Test inning against England was a testimony of the potential he had.

The 36-year-old opened up about his Test debut against England in 2014, in which he scored a match-saving 78 in India’s 2nd innings. The Bangalore-born cricketer revealed captain MS Dhoni’s advice ahead of the final day, on which India had to bat out three sessions to ensure a draw.

“A special day in my life, to receive my Test cap #281 from Mahi bhai. We were under the pump on the last day. I had scored 1 in the first innings I had a sleepless night before I walked in to bat,” said Stuart Binny in an interview with Sportskeeda.

I can’t believe he said something like that to me: Stuart Binny

Like any other cricketer, he too was nervous considering it was his debut game and on top of that it was in England. He had made just a solitary run in the first innings and the team really needed him to perform in order to draw the Test.

“And Mahi bhai told me, ‘Listen, we need you to bat 4.5 hours to save the Test match’. And I looked at him like I can’t believe he said something like that to me,” he continued. We’ve always heard about what a captain’s backing can do to a player and the Indian captain saying this would’ve definitely motivated the all-rounder.

“8-9 years of domestic cricket at that spot, either saving matches or trying to put a game on. And experience got me through that day. I would have loved to have a Test hundred on debut but it didn’t work out that day. I’ll take a 78 any day of my life,” said the ex Rajasthan Royals cricketer. His fighting 78 handed India a comfortable draw and was an inning every Indian cricket fan would remember.