Light-footed Dhoni still has ‘finishing’ touch
DHONI HAS NEVER HAD QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT HIS FITNESS IN HIS CAREER, THOUGH HE WILL BE 38 DURING THE 2019 WORLD CUP
PALLEKELE: India had announced polishing players’ skill sets and ramping up fitness would be the focus as they play a struggling Sri Lankan team in the current ODI series.
However, resilience and temperament are invaluable for success at the top level and former skipper MS Dhoni sent out a message to younger team on that front preparing for the 2019 World Cup.
India skipper Virat Kohli acknowledged his batsmen were unprepared after versatile Sri Lankan spinner Akila Dananjaya caught them out with the googly and leg-break, instead of his stock off-break in the second ODI on Thursday night.
However, Dhoni, 36, as calm as ever in the face of huge pressure, guided India to a threewicket win.
The former Indian skipper, whose most famous knock against Sri Lanka came in the 2011 World Cup final, guided Bhuvneshwar Kumar to his maiden ODI fifty after the No 9 negated Dananjaya’s spin by playing for the incoming delivery every time.
USING HIS FEET
The spinner had reeled off six wickets in 20 deliveries with three batsmen bowled – Kohli, Kedar Jadhav and KL Rahul – while playing from the crease. Rohit Sharma and Axar Patel were trapped in front sweeping and Hardik Pandya stumped.
Dhoni came in and immediately began using his feet, getting to the pitch of the ball and pushing for singles and twos. It forced Sri Lanka skipper Upul Tharanga to take Dananjaya off the attack with two overs left, hoping his pacers would strike and he can bring the spinner on to finish the job.
But Dhoni, criticised for not finishing games with a flourish like he used to, showed a different way to take the team past the finish line. The Indian camp was glad he helped avoid a big embarrassment.
Sri Lankan team’s interim head coach, Nic Pothas, said: “Bhuvi played brilliantly and Dhoni did what he does best -one of the calmest characters under pressure.”
IN GREAT SHAPE
While Dhoni has always been about unflappable temperament than copybook skills, the effort would boost him.
Chief selector, MSK Prasad, has said Dhoni will have to stay in top shape to be considered for the World Cup.
Kohli has said the senior player needs regular matches to be prepared for the World Cup.
Dhoni has never had questions asked about his fitness in his career, though he will be 38 when the World Cup arrives. So, he seems to have taken extra effort while in the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore before landing in Sri Lanka.
He has shed weight, and his upper body looks leaner. That is attributed to his working on core muscles to ensure flab doesn’t hinder his agility keeping wicket.
On Thursday, Dhoni hit one four in his 68-ball innings. The big shots though have not been put away for good. They flow freely in the nets as of now.