Rain looms large over series decider
the second T20 loss at Rajkot. Though he scored a 37-ball 49, which included three sixes and two fours, it was not the Dhoni Indian fans are used to.
So much so that former cricketers Ajit Agarkar and VVS Laxman raised questions about Dhoni’s spot in the playing XI. While Agarkar said India should look at other wicketkeeper-batsman options, Laxman felt the 36-year-old Dhoni should make way for youngsters in T20s.
One has to admit the 2007 World T20-winning captain doesn’t have the arsenal – teeing off from the word go --that was his USP earlier, something the man himself admitted not so long ago. But whether his time is up is something only MS Dhoni may decide.
Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri have another issue to sort out – who will be India’s fifth bowler. The hosts played rookie pacer Mohammed Siraj in place of the retired Ashish Nehra in Rajkot, but the 23-year-old proved very costly, conceding 53 runs in his four overs.
Dropping the Hyderabad player right after debut could severely jolt his confidence. But then India have a series to win, and the team’s priorities come before any individual’s emotion or career.
Whatever transpires, the Thiruvananthapuram game has all the ingredients to be a thriller. What it needs is some respite from the heavens. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: VVS Laxman and Ajit Agarkar may be concerned over his slow starts in T20s and questioned MS Dhoni’s place in the team, but the team is fully backing him, not doubting his abilities. “We’re not worried about his form. If you look at his record, no one is really bothered. Whatever he has achieved, he is a legend,” pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar said on the eve of the third T20.
Dhoni was criticised for his relatively slow innings (49 – 37 b, 10 dot balls) as India failed to overhaul a stiff target and lost the second T20 in Rajkot by 40 runs. Agarkar said India should look for Dhoni’s alternative. Laxman said he should make way for youngsters in T20s. “Whatever he is doing only benefits the team. No one has any doubts about him,” said Bhuvi.
The fifth bowler has been a cause of concern for India. Debutant pacer Mohammed Siraj went for 53 runs in Rajkot. Bhuvneshwar played down any concerns.“if you look at the fifth bowler, we have Hardik Pandya and other part-timers. Of course, there can be times when your main bowlers will fail to pick wickets or give away too many runs, but as of now we are quite satisfied with the combination. A three-match series is very short to decide such things.”
Of late, skipper Virat Kohli has capitalised on Bhuvneshwar bowling in tandem with Jasprit Bumrah. The medium pacer said he and Bumrah give each other a lot of confidence by discussing strategies on how to contain the runs and pick wickets as well.
STRIKING IN TANDEM
“The way Bumrah’s action is, many batsmen find it difficult to pick him. There are many areas where he has improved too. He always had the yorker, now he has improved his slower deliveries,” said Bhuvneshwar.
“When you bowl with these kind of bowlers, you get a lot of confidence that in case I fail, he is there. We always discuss strategies, how we can trouble opponent batsmen while bowling in tandem. It helps us both.”
The visiting team has given India a tough time, pushing both the ODI and T20 series into the decider. New Zealand batsmen, in particular, have excelled with Colin Munro standing out.
“If you look at the statistics, it is Colin Munro who has troubled us but they have got Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson too. We can’t really pinpoint one batsman and say only Munro is dangerous. Overall, they are a very good team,” added Bhuvneshwar.
BHUVNESHWAR, on MS Dhoni