MS Dhoni's Intent in Mohali ODI Was Like 2011 World Cup Final: Sunil Gavaskar
MS Dhoni batted at No. 4 position in the third ODI against New Zealand and scored an effective 80 to help India win by seven wickets and take 2-1 lead in series
- NDTV Sports
- Updated: October 24, 2016 03:57 PM IST
MS Dhoni, India captain, promoting himself to No. 4 in the third ODI against New Zealand surprised many. He justified his decision by scoring an effective 80 that helped India win by seven wickets to take 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Dhoni's decision to bat up the order from his usual position was reminiscent of the Indian captain's decision to bat at No. 5, not his usual slot, in 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka, according to former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.
In that match, chasing 274, India were tottering at 114-3, with Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli back in pavilion. Dhoni came to bat at No. 5 ahead of an in-form Yuvraj Singh and played a match-winning unbeaten 91 to take India to victory.
"The intent (in the third ODI) was like in the 2011 World Cup final. In that match, knowing that Muralitharan was bowling he came in to bat. At that time, both were playing for the same franchise (Chennai Super Kings) and Dhoni knew the bowling of Murali. He took the responsibilty on him, despite Yuvraj Singh being in form, and proved himself right," Gavaskar told NDTV.
"In Mohali also, Dhoni knew that could not afford to lose against New Zealand. His experience was needed With Virat Kohli. Manish Pandey and Kedar Jadhav are fine middle order batsmen, but they need experience. Dhoni knew the importance of his partnership with Kohli."
Dhoni himself, however, has said that he is 'losing ability to freely rotate in the middle' and that's why batted at No. 4. "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," Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony," he said.
Gavaskar added that Dhoni should have got a century. Dhoni's 80 was his first half-century after 10 innings.
"Dhoni deserved a century. It was after 10 innings that he got a half-century and also he crossed 9000 runs in the match. But then not everything can be achieved," Gavaskar said.