India clinched their maiden ODI bilateral series against Australia in Australia. (Reuters Photo)

NEW DELHI: Former Australian batsman Dean Jones is in awe of the current Indian cricket team and even compared it to the great West Indies side of the 1980s.

Virat Kohli led India through a historic tour of Australia, during which the team won the Test and ODI rubbers and drew the T20 International series.

In his column for the Times of India, Jones wrote, "This was the greatest tour that India has ever had to Australia. The only blemish was probably the way they played in the Test match in Perth, but overall the great thing was that a lot of the boys played good overseas. Everyone did something on the tour to contribute."

Jones wrote every player played his part as India clinched their maiden ODI bilateral series against Australia in Australia.

"The emergence of Chahal on his first outing Down Under was awesome, while Kuldeep Yadav continues to impress and had a wonderful ODI series. He showed everyone why he's so good. Shami worked long and hard in the Tests and then backed that up with another superb ODI series. Sharma was brilliant in the one-dayers too, while Virat Kohli led magnificently right through," Jones wrote.

Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit three consecutive half-centuries in the ODI series and was adjudged the Man of the Series.

"The main 'problem' is Dhoni. He's back in this team and the question is will India, if push comes to shove, play Rishabh Pant as just a batsman? India couldn't be having a better journey for their World Cup campaign than what they are having now and they have got to make sure they finish off New Zealand as well. What would be the worst thing to ruin this would be to go out to against the Black Caps and drop their guard," Jones opined.

India became the first team ever not to lose any series Down Under and Jones had no hesitation in comparing Kohli's team to the fearsome Windies side of the 80s.

"India now are no different to what the West Indies were in the eighties and early nineties. They have got to maintain the reputation that they can win in anyone's backyard now and must not take the foot off the pedal. The Windies were brilliant at it and had that "scare factor", which is what India have now," Jones opined.

Jones added that the Australian side was let down by their batsmen who did not put up enough runs on the board in the ODI series.

"Australia have a long way to go. The top four did not make enough hundreds, and the engine room is not accepting responsibility of winning or losing games. I thought Richardson was a find, he played well. They've got problems all over the place. They don't have a good spinner; I think they've got to look at Fawad Ahmed who I feel is the best spinner going right now. I also feel we need Matthew Wade at No. 7," Jones concluded.



In Video: Virat Kohli & Co remind of the Windies of '80s: Dean Jones