As Dhoni gets slower ,timeto test Pant ahead of World Cup
With Karthik too failing to score, playing Pant as batsman could be an option
needed to come out in seven of the last 21 ODIS, beginning with the South Africa tour. That means every failure by Dhoni is bound to be dissected more critically now on, especially in the World Cup year. Sydney was the first for this year though it didn’t seem headed that way.
Dhoni was always a big proponent of grafting till the required run rate was under control. On Saturday however, Dhoni fell short of his own standards. Never really a sweet timer of the ball, he struggled to pierce the gaps in Sydney. Case in point was the maiden bowled by Nathan Lyon where Dhoni skipped out every ball only to prod at it. Any other batsman — Pant or even Pandey — would have had better success in milking someone who went for 50 runs from 10 overs.
By the time he was adjudged leg before, Dhoni looked as tired as someone who had been playing non-stop for two months. Only he hasn’t. New batsman Dinesh Karthik was expected to accelerate but poor shot selection meant his last fifty still came 15 months back. Punting on two wicket-keepers whose primary job isn’t keeping wicket doesn’t look to be a great idea.
There will be some time to improve if Australia and New Zealand don’t go according to plan.
Pitches will be flat and boundaries will be small during the limited-overs series against Australia at home next month. And then there is IPL. Law of averages say Dhoni should come to his elements again one day. But it won’t be a bad idea for India to see if Pant fits in their scheme of things.