Ever since his retirement from Test cricket, the questions around Dhoni’s presence in the limited-overs sides have grown louder. It is true Dhoni is not the batsman he once was. However, the 35-year-old demonstrated in Mohali that he still had plenty to offer with the bat. And Ranchi’s favourite son is unspeakably brilliant behind the stumps.
When Mahendra Singh Dhoni walked out to bat, in the second ODI against Bangladesh in Mirpur last year, it was the first time in 35 months that he had emerged at two-drop. Dhoni made a laboured 75-ball-47 that afternoon, as India was bundled out for 200, a score that Bangladesh easily overhauled to register its first one-day series win over its neighbour.
Despite all the tumult over the historic nature of that Indian defeat, the captain’s decision to promote himself up the order did not go unnoticed. “I would like to bat slightly up the order so I can play a bit more freely,” he said later. “In the last four-five years, I have batted at 6, and there is always some kind of pressure or the other, so I have not been able to bat freely. Yes, I have adapted to what the team needed of me since 2006, but for the longer run it is important for us to see who is a good batter at 6, 7, or maybe even 5.”
Recently, that conversation resurfaced when Dhoni pushed himself up to No. 4 again, during the third ODI against New Zealand in Mohali. The skipper made a 91-ball-80, stitching together a crucial 151-run partnership with Virat Kohli, as India won by seven wickets.
“I HAVE BATTED LOWER DOWN for a long time, I think 200 innings down the order. To some extent, I am losing my ability to freely rotate in the middle, so I have decided to bat up and let others finish,” he said afterwards.
Ever since his retirement from Test cricket, the questions around Dhoni’s presence in the limited-overs sides have grown louder. His waning ability to clear the ropes and his supposed decline as a ‘finisher’, have been used as arguments to suggest he should consider retirement.
Bu hikaye Sportstar dergisinin November 12, 2016 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Sportstar dergisinin November 12, 2016 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Tokyo Marathon Cancelled For Amateurs On Coronavirus Fears
Organisers in Japan cancelled the amateur portion of the Tokyo marathon, affecting around 38,000 runners, on fears about the spread of the new coronavirus in Japan.
Right Criteria To Pick The Tennis GOAT
What should the criteria be? What weight should be attached to each criterion? And what should not be considered as valid criteria?
The making of a batting behemoth
If Steve Smith dominated the Ashes in England in a dramatic, blockbuster fashion then his like for like a replacement, Marnus Labuschagne, is the Next Big Thing after an exciting summer of run-glut.
WHEN ACES WERE REWARDED...
It was an evening of nostalgia and celebration when the Sportstar Aces awards were given away in Mumbai.
A question of recognition
After a week of awards, one wonders if it’s only a departed player that one will be named after.
Thinking straight, thinking right!
“A lot depends on when I am bowling and what is required from me. That’s something I do when I play for India and I try to follow the same thing in the domestic circuit,” says Yuzvendra Chahal.
The Big Three and the Next Gen
Though the Big Three are very unlikely to retire during the same year, Judy Murray, mother of Andy, echoed the sentiments of many fans worried about the impact of their departures.
WAKING UP TO MENTAL HEALTH
Sport at large and cricket specifically has taken an inordinately long time to address the elephant in the room — the dark abyss of depression.
Like sunshine in a gloomy dressing room
Bangladesh quick Abu Jayed Rahi is new in the red-ball arena, but his swing brings back old memories — of James Anderson on green tops.
The league of the masses
With traditional clubs locking horns with the hard-working nurseries of the game, the I-League will continue to keep the beating heart of Indian football alive despite official apathy.
