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"I am losing the ability to rotate the strike" : MS Dhoni

Suleiman

Suleiman

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MOHALI: He may have silenced his detractors with a fine knock here but India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, assessing his batting in recent times, said "I am losing an ability to freely rotate in the middle".

Dhoni struck 80 off 91 balls and shared a 151-run partnership for the third wicket with Virat Kohli (154) to guide India to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the third ODI and help the hosts take a 2-1 lead in the five-match ODI series.
The captain moved himself up to number four.

"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 the others finish," Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

He added, "But I know I should still look for the big shots. Once you get 15-20 runs, you get into the groove. There were points in the middle where I had to pull myself from playing big shots, and batting with Virat helps because we know we can get boundaries, and get those quick singles and doubles."

Kohli slammed his runs off only 134 balls, hitting 16 boundaries and a six.
About his in-form vice-captain, Dhoni said, "Right from the start, he is somebody who always wanted to improve to win games for India. He is somebody who has learnt a lot and he is somebody who knows his strengths really well. It's very difficult to say what the top level is in cricket, but Kohli has done India proud."
Dhoni acknowledged the performance of Kedar Jadav, who picked up 3-29 in 5 overs.

"The surprise package has been Kedar, he has always given us wickets in the middle overs, and that's when you can restrict the opposition. But we have to finish better with the ball, the last five, six, seven overs. I have no clue how he gets wickets. It's important to have one in the top five to bowl a few, especially with left-handers in the opposition with him being an offspinner."
He further said, "I think we would have done better in the last game, but what's important is coming back and doing well in the next one and I felt it was a very good game for us initially, I thought it would be a high-scoring game, but the bowlers did well in the middle overs to restrict them to 280."
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...te-strike-says-Dhoni/articleshow/55018589.cms

So the people who want him gone are somewhat right. His skills as an ODI batsman are fading, but he is going to use whatever's left in the tank to the best of his ability at 4 from now on.
 
I think he still has it in him. Better than the ones on the bench like Saha, D. Karthik.. Playing at 4 is going to be huge for him, he may find the same success as he did at as finisher.
 
Better than Rohit, Rahane, Manish and Kedar. 2nd best batter for India still, he should continue at number 4.
 
lol all this talk just points to the massive gulf in class between Pak and Ind odi sides
 
What he meant was consistently coming at 6 he has to hit out from ball one so was loosing the ability to take singles and doubles. Playing at 4 allows him to settle down.
 
I'm glad to see this change personally as a fan.

His most destructive innings came in the top 4. In his early years.

Hope to see that again.

Just needs to grow his hair out again for the full nostalgia feel. :msd

Recently he did do an ad with long hair, so who knows. :kohli
 
Major issue us burden of captaincy. Once he resigns from captaincy, he will play freely and can still be a key 0layer for us for next 2-3 years. His fitness is still top class, can still hit big, keeping is still sharp. Burden of captaincy is impacting Dhoni the batsman.
 
In order to have a long successful career, players need to evolve their game. I am glad he realized it. Its hard sometime to leave your old style which made you a superstar. Afridi is one example who had been prisoner of his earlier image throughout his career. He could have a much successful batting career but couldn't evolve his game due to earlier heorics. Had he been honest to himself, Understood his limitation and changed his game, He would have served Pak cricket in much better way. From Indian side, It was Viru. However for him it wasn't his ego or image, It was his attitude, he couldn't couldn't control his urge to hit out. I believe as player get more experience and matured, he should move on to accumulator and stabilize the inning and hitting should be left to younger ones!!
 
ShoonyaSifar said:
Major issue us burden of captaincy. Once he resigns from captaincy, he will play freely and can still be a key 0layer for us for next 2-3 years. His fitness is still top class, can still hit big, keeping is still sharp. Burden of captaincy is impacting Dhoni the batsman.
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I dont think so. Captaincy has become a part of him given that he has been doing it for about a decade now. He's probably used to the pressure and if someone else was made captain while he was still in the team, the players would still look at him as captain and there would be a weird tension.

Tactically, he's still the best LOI captain in the world by far.
 
Poor Ross Taylor would be saying "I'm losing my ability to play cricket... Whether Batting or catching."
 
Thank you for being so honest Dhoni.

Not many will have the guts and confidence to say something like this at the twilight of their career. Something which can be used against them.

Respect mate.

My friends here in PP think I hate you. They think I am ungrateful to whatever you have done for India.

But that's not the truth.

I have always admired your heroics in ODI.

Always admired the way you led our ODI side.

Without your captaincy, we couldn't have won the WC 2011 and we sure as hell couldn't have won CT 2013 (I have said it here a lot of times....if there was one guy who could have pulled off the CT 2013 finals win, it was you....yes, you need a bit of luck and Ishant magic but still that is something we all need when surmounting a herculean task).

And without your batting, we would have lost so many games. Supremely gifted finisher. One who probably would have had 30 centuries if he had batted up the order. You may have failed a lot in WC games but you did bring it on when it matters. Sachin himself owes a chunk of his glory due to that 1 knock you played. Some (as in very few) people say you came in at a relatively okayish situation and stole Gambhir's thunder but what they don't understand is that Yuvi and Raina are weak against Murali and one good spell could have turned the game on its head. There is a reason why its hard to chase in finals (no one had chased that much before) and in 4th innings. Pressure eventually gets you. But you soaked up all the pressure and snuffed out any hope for SL.

With all being said, sometimes in life, its time to eventually realize the harsh truth.

I have criticized you a lot in the past. My criticism has been unforgiving, relentless and ruthless but it has been FAIR.

Right now in ODIs, its sadly true that you are finding it harder to rotate singles. Its also true that you are finding it hard to bring on the big shots at will. In pressure situations, you are struggling to do it.

Even in IPL where you always always click, your batting in the last 2 seasons has gone down big time.

Its only going to get harder. At number 4 in modern era, you still need to rotate strike, still need to smash those hits under pressure (maybe not as much as finishers but somewhat).

You have to use every single cell in your body to get things done which you could do with ease in your prime. And still all that efforts may not be enough.

Is it worth it carrying on in such fashion?

I sadly don't think so.

There is no shame in losing your ability. Everyone faces that at some point of time. Right now, you still have something in your tank that can help you put up the odd good scores. But what you have is not enough for what India needs.

I hope you pick up a good series and retire with glory mate. Before CT 2017.

You deserve that for the performances you gave for India.

But if you keep ignoring the signs or thinking you can somehow overcome it, it will turn ugly eventually.

You have done it all in ODIs (opening, batting at 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, captaincy). Achieved everything and helped India to glory in every major tournament.

But now India needs you to deliver one final time, Dhoni.

This time, its for a different role.

This role is to overcome your mind, relinquish your spot and allow us to build a team for the CT 2017 and WC 2019.

Can you do this one final thing for us Dhoni?

A final flourish from a man who put the team before himself.

I think you can do it.

Take us to the finish line Dhoni just like you always do.

This may not be the most exciting innings you play but it will be an immensely valuable one nonetheless.

And isn't that what you are all about?

Regards,
SIF
 
Funny, he's actually quite adept at takings singles and twos. Runs like the wind.
 
Good honesty, and it's been obvious he has lost that for a while now.

Thing is, even a Dhoni who is in decline can absolutely be an asset to the team. He will do much better at 4, where him and Kohli pushing each other for 2s and 3s can be brutal for opposition. And he's still an exceptional keeper to spinners, especially with stumpings. As long as he's still able to contribute, no need to retire. unless he doesn't want to. This business where fans donot want to see players in decline in the team is rather irrational. A declining legend who can still contribute is better than including some scrub like Naman Ojha.
 
Varun said:
Funny, he's actually quite adept at takings singles and twos. Runs like the wind.
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It's not about the running, the guy is still freakishly fit. It's about him not being able to ping the ball into the gaps.
 
Suleiman said:
I dont think so. Captaincy has become a part of him given that he has been doing it for about a decade now. He's probably used to the pressure and if someone else was made captain while he was still in the team, the players would still look at him as captain and there would be a weird tension.

Tactically, he's still the best LOI captain in the world by far.
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Watch the Indian Test team under Kohli vs the LOI teams under Dhoni. The LOI teams always look under so much pressure and the captain goes into a shell the moment we are put under pressure. 9+ years as India captain is enough to drain out anyone given all the limelight, hitjobs by media, ex-players, PR managers etc.

Dhoni's time as India captain was over after 2015 WC. Should have voluntarily resigned and continued to play as keeper-batsman. Results tell you the same as well, under Dhoni in lat 18 months, all we have done is win a series in Zimbabwe! Not good enough
 
Funny thing is, he'd be our best ODI batsman if he played for Pakistan.
 
Still can do the job at 4 and groom the next finisher.No one better to do that than him
 
Varun said:
In which world is Pakistan the gold standard in LoI batting?
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Abey hadh hai..! Where is he even hinting anything remotely equivalent?

If anything, he is pointing at the gulf between the standards.
 
Still our second best ODI batsman. Team needs him, and he will be an asset up the order.
 
He's 35 years old and has represented his country almost 450 times. It's no surprise then that he is starting to lose his skills somewhat. The problem is at the moment even a Dhoni at 70% of his best is better than the alternatives. Moreover his captaincy and nous behind the wickets is also worth a lot to the one day team. Let him play until the WC in England and then he'll call it quits.
 
You still have it in yourself MS. You are far far better than the likes of Naman Ojha, DK, Saha, Samson etc.

Team is not ready to let you go. Let the Pants and Samsons play couple of more years in domestics and prove their worth.

I'd gladly have MS in my team even if he 50% of what he used to be.
 
Some Indian fans , what they dont realise is that hes always taken the toughest role in a ODI team . pretty much every time Dhoni has played a good innings , India needed him to do that . its easy to play in top order with no pressure and pile up meaning less runs , but its not easy to do what MSD did for so many years consistently . I hope he plays in the top 4 for a few years and I wont be surprised if his batting average and strike rate spikes up . it will also give him to retire on a high .
Unfortunately for India tough , there is no clear replacement for him lower down the order . I dont like the Indian batting linup with likes of Rohit , Rahane and Jadhav in it . I dont know how much more responsibility Virat can take .
 
sensible-indian-fan said:
Thank you for being so honest Dhoni.

Not many will have the guts and confidence to say something like this at the twilight of their career. Something which can be used against them.

Respect mate.

My friends here in PP think I hate you. They think I am ungrateful to whatever you have done for India.

But that's not the truth.

I have always admired your heroics in ODI.

Always admired the way you led our ODI side.

Without your captaincy, we couldn't have won the WC 2011 and we sure as hell couldn't have won CT 2013 (I have said it here a lot of times....if there was one guy who could have pulled off the CT 2013 finals win, it was you....yes, you need a bit of luck and Ishant magic but still that is something we all need when surmounting a herculean task).

And without your batting, we would have lost so many games. Supremely gifted finisher. One who probably would have had 30 centuries if he had batted up the order. You may have failed a lot in WC games but you did bring it on when it matters. Sachin himself owes a chunk of his glory due to that 1 knock you played. Some (as in very few) people say you came in at a relatively okayish situation and stole Gambhir's thunder but what they don't understand is that Yuvi and Raina are weak against Murali and one good spell could have turned the game on its head. There is a reason why its hard to chase in finals (no one had chased that much before) and in 4th innings. Pressure eventually gets you. But you soaked up all the pressure and snuffed out any hope for SL.

With all being said, sometimes in life, its time to eventually realize the harsh truth.

I have criticized you a lot in the past. My criticism has been unforgiving, relentless and ruthless but it has been FAIR.

Right now in ODIs, its sadly true that you are finding it harder to rotate singles. Its also true that you are finding it hard to bring on the big shots at will. In pressure situations, you are struggling to do it.

Even in IPL where you always always click, your batting in the last 2 seasons has gone down big time.

Its only going to get harder. At number 4 in modern era, you still need to rotate strike, still need to smash those hits under pressure (maybe not as much as finishers but somewhat).

You have to use every single cell in your body to get things done which you could do with ease in your prime. And still all that efforts may not be enough.

Is it worth it carrying on in such fashion?

I sadly don't think so.

There is no shame in losing your ability. Everyone faces that at some point of time. Right now, you still have something in your tank that can help you put up the odd good scores. But what you have is not enough for what India needs.

I hope you pick up a good series and retire with glory mate. Before CT 2017.

You deserve that for the performances you gave for India.

But if you keep ignoring the signs or thinking you can somehow overcome it, it will turn ugly eventually.

You have done it all in ODIs (opening, batting at 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, captaincy). Achieved everything and helped India to glory in every major tournament.

But now India needs you to deliver one final time, Dhoni.

This time, its for a different role.

This role is to overcome your mind, relinquish your spot and allow us to build a team for the CT 2017 and WC 2019.

Can you do this one final thing for us Dhoni?

A final flourish from a man who put the team before himself.

I think you can do it.

Take us to the finish line Dhoni just like you always do.

This may not be the most exciting innings you play but it will be an immensely valuable one nonetheless.

And isn't that what you are all about?

Regards,
SIF
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I dont know what India will gain by him playing in Top4 .
The only thing good thing to come out of this is that the lesser players down the order will get exposed under pressure and we will be forced to look for better options .
 
On another note, MS was like fresh breeze when he came in the team. Who can forget the era of draught for wk-batsman. Ratra, Dahiya, MSK prasad, Saba Karim, Deep Dasgupta ...

I hope history doesn't repeat here and we find a decent replacement of Dhoni when he decides to hang his boots.
 
Varun said:
Funny, he's actually quite adept at takings singles and twos. Runs like the wind.
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He is probably one the fittest players in international cricket and he can run really well, but issue is him finding gaps consistently.
 
Varun said:
In which world is Pakistan the gold standard in LoI batting?
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He was pointing out Pakistani ODI batting being not good and not sure why you thought otherwise.
 
Not sure how you can lose the ability to rotate the strike, you either have it or you dont naturally but you don't just lose it. In fact he atleast can hit big. Strike rotation isn't the only thing. Chris Gayle doesn't take a lot of singles, he prefers not to run, in fact he doesn't even mind playing dot balls because he has full confidence in his abilities to make up for it big time by hitting 4,4,6,6 in 4 deliveries which will nuetralize everything.

When Dhoni first started his career he was a similar sort of batsman.
 
Dhoni's role as finisher is over but he is still an excellent ODI batsman, better than any current Pakistani batsman. However, he needs to bat at #4. India is missing a Yuvraj/Raina type players who can bat at #5 and #6 who can really hit big and finish the inning.
 
He never had that ability in the first place. He is just a slogger, nothing else.
 
AlphaFighter said:
Not sure how you can lose the ability to rotate the strike, you either have it or you dont naturally but you don't just lose it. In fact he atleast can hit big. Strike rotation isn't the only thing. Chris Gayle doesn't take a lot of singles, he prefers not to run, in fact he doesn't even mind playing dot balls because he has full confidence in his abilities to make up for it big time by hitting 4,4,6,6 in 4 deliveries which will nuetralize everything.

When Dhoni first started his career he was a similar sort of batsman.
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Lot of difference between opening and coming in at 5.

Even Gayle takes 30 balls to get in nowadays.
 
2 years on, still continuing with his struggles but refusing to see the reality. Note how swiftly the Dhoni mafia highlights his DRS calls or random field changes to show how good he is. Media runs positive stories when he is not playing. Not one expert other than Dada has the guts to say the facts about him.

All this is likely to end very badly for him like his test career.
 
PakLFC said:
He never had that ability in the first place. He is just a slogger, nothing else.
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:41:
Your talking about arguably the greatest ODI wkt keeper batman in the history of the game. He's finished now, but will always be the greatest finisher in the game along with bevan.
 
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Imagine if MS had retired two years ago like he should have, India would have a talented youngster like Pant blooded with two years experience fit and ready for the World Cup.

Instead we have a player who has repeatedly failed in ICC tournaments in England..
 
cricketindiafan said:
2 years on, still continuing with his struggles but refusing to see the reality. Note how swiftly the Dhoni mafia highlights his DRS calls or random field changes to show how good he is. Media runs positive stories when he is not playing. Not one expert other than Dada has the guts to say the facts about him.

All this is likely to end very badly for him like his test career.
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This guy is the worst and biggest politician in indian cricket history. He is a hack masquerading as a batsman who got disproportionate amount of fame on the back of others performances. He wanted youngsters in the team and booted the seniors out but now playing shamelessly after he was past his prime since eons ago.
 
austerlitz said:
:41:
Your talking about arguably the greatest ODI wkt keeper batman in the history of the game .Lol.Afridi and Inzi and their grandad together haven't won as many matches as dhoni has.He's finished now, but will always be the greatest finisher in the game along with bevan.
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Haha the greatest my foot. He is not fit to tie Gilchrist shoe laces as a batsman. He is an abysmal failure in every icc event he played.
 
Thomaskutty said:
Imagine if MS had retired two years ago like he should have, India would have a talented youngster like Pant blooded with two years experience fit and ready for the World Cup.

Instead we have a player who has repeatedly failed in ICC tournaments in England..
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U can see how scheming this guy has become. He is not even giving chances in t 20s to other youngsters. My blood boils seeing this disgusting guy play every meaning less tour just to block others from getting chances and establish themselves
 
I don't know about anyone else but, the title of this thread got me a little emotional. Dhoni has always been one of my favourite Indian players and for him to admit that, and for us fans to confirm his own statements, is a gut punch.

I guess time catches up with everyone so Dhoni isn't alone in that.
 
Reyansh2017 said:
U can see how scheming this guy has become. He is not even giving chances in t 20s to other youngsters. My blood boils seeing this disgusting guy play every meaning less tour just to block others from getting chances and establish themselves
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I wouldn't exactly blame him or call him scheming. It's his career and it's natural to hang on to something that is your life's work.

Selectors are at fault here for not dropping him.
 
Reyansh2017 said:
Haha the greatest my foot. He is not fit to tie Gilchrist shoe laces as a batsman. He is an abysmal failure in every icc event he played.
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Good joke for the batsman who played a match winning innings in a wc final.Gilchrist overall is far better ofc,but in ODIs dhoni gives him a run for his money.Dhoni is the greatest ODI finisher like it or not.Even though i want him dropped i cant deny that.
 
austerlitz said:
Good joke for the batsman who played a match winning innings in a wc final.Gilchrist overall is far better ofc,but in ODIs dhoni gives him a run for his money.Dhoni is the greatest ODI finisher like it or not.Even though i want him dropped i cant deny that.
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Greatest finisher in indian conditions only. Outside of asia he is a hack of the highest order who has done nothing
 
I always felt that Dhoni after retiring from Test Cricket and then stepping down from the captaincy would have had all the time and opportunity to focus on his own game as a player alone with the reduced responsibility and work load. Clearly I was proven wrong.
 
He should retire. This has become embarrassing now. Why destroying your legacy?So many poor knocks already in last four years.
 
U guys think too highly about this hack who is a disgrace to indian batting standards. He is not deserving of even one fourth of the fame he is getting.
 
He is a goner man. His struggles against spin (even the regulation spin) is embarrassing. Looks like his percentage cricket doesn't work for him anymore. He would lunge and somehow get bat on ball. Nowadays he misses the line more often.
 
Sherlock said:
I don't know about anyone else but, the title of this thread got me a little emotional. Dhoni has always been one of my favourite Indian players and for him to admit that, and for us fans to confirm his own statements, is a gut punch.

I guess time catches up with everyone so Dhoni isn't alone in that.
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It is sad.

Dhoni was an absolute machine during ODI chases. Just ran teams into the ground before smashing sixes for fun.
 
The end is near.

All good things come to an end.

He should call it a day now.
 
Dhoni has enough self-awareness to realise what a big burden he is on Indian team today, yet he chooses to carry on like this. Emotions aside, it is very fair when he loses respect for being so selfish.
 
Saj said:
The end is near.

All good things come to an end.

He should call it a day now.
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He will not. He will drag down indian team along with him by not giving chances to other players and by his beyond pathetic hacking.

He is not a batsman in any sense
 
Big CSK and a Dhoni fan here. It is time to strap down his boots, even today he was bullying Kuldeep threatening to take him of cause he asked something. It may have worked when you are good, but when you are no longer the player you were(was already hyped a bit) and selfishly not give your spot to deserving player like Pant it is disheartening to see.
 
Kamran Akmal= 36 years old
Shoaib Malik= 36 years old
Mohammed Hafeez= 37 years old

MS Dhoni= 37 years old

The first 3 are world-class batsmen in form, and scoring double centuries and centuries left and right. Smashing sixes and fours all over the ground and setting records. The last is a declining batsmen who is failing every single match nowadays and causing defeats to their team, and trying to reach 10K runs for the last 2 years.
 
And so we come to the elephant in the room; there is little statistical basis for keeping MS Dhoni in the side. He has scored at 4.92rpo since the start of 2017, despite facing most of his deliveries at the end of the innings, and he has just the eighth highest Average Batting Impact. When he faces less than 20 balls in a match, India win 88% of the time; when he faces more than that, they win 53% of the time.


Looking to beat India in ODIs? Get Dhoni in before the 40th over.
 
I think Dhoni's time has come in ODI's. He needs to gracefully retire and give up hopes of representing India in 2019 WC. India need to pick Rishabh Pant for the West Indies ODI series and stick with him till the World cup. If they need a back up someone like Sanju Samson or Ishan Kishan should be considered. Dhoni's batting has gone downhill and I don't think he can improve any more.
 
They will need his calm head in the WC, still the best WK in India (and probably World also). Should come in and have a go from start, quickfire 40 would be very handy down the order.
 
IAJ said:
They will need his calm head in the WC, still the best WK in India (and probably World also). Should come in and have a go from start, quickfire 40 would be very handy down the order.
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Third best WK in India. His shelf life was up in 2015 after the WC. Now he's just stinking up the dressing room.

Even so, he's shockingly better than Sarfaraz. The mind boggles.
 
If he is playing as specialist wk then he should bat as last recognised batsman not at no.4 or 5.
 
My hero already lost power hitting.i expected u to retire in 2016 gracefully in home series
 
Reyansh2017 said:
Greatest finisher in indian conditions only. Outside of asia he is a hack of the highest order who has done nothing
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His prime coincided with World Cup being played in India. It is absurd to say that he succeeded only in India/Asia (at least in ODIs) you forget his other innings outside Asia because WC innings stands out and the failure in 2015 hurts! Even Gilchrist didn't win WC in India!
 
AMSS said:
Third best WK in India. His shelf life was up in 2015 after the WC. Now he's just stinking up the dressing room.

Even so, he's shockingly better than Sarfaraz. The mind boggles.
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Who are the 2 who's better than MS? I'm guessing Saha is one but who is the other?
 
alized said:
Kamran Akmal= 36 years old
Shoaib Malik= 36 years old
Mohammed Hafeez= 37 years old

MS Dhoni= 37 years old

The first 3 are world-class batsmen in form, and scoring double centuries and centuries left and right. Smashing sixes and fours all over the ground and setting records. The last is a declining batsmen who is failing every single match nowadays and causing defeats to their team, and trying to reach 10K runs for the last 2 years.
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Lol. Where?
 
At least knowing it that Pant is roaring to go, Dhoni should retire now before its too late (Australia, NZ tours are enough to prime up Pant!) It is in his own hand (Shastri won't throw him out, Kohli can't throw him out, and BCCI/Selectors can't touch him!) If he can think sensibly and without ego he will do a world of good to Indian fans, it will do a lot of harm to his legacy if he brings about two failures (2015 & 2019) and that will dampen up a lot of his achievement in 2011 (and will be termed as FTB unfortunately!) I supported him 2 years back when there were no better replacements for him (When Saha, Partiv, DK, etc were around), but the IPL and some progress in Indian cricket has definitely shown that he is replaceable now (at least by Pant!) so he should wake up! If IPL cannot give Indian fans this luxury (apt replacements at apt times!) then we may start hating it for it is just based on "money making" and nothing more!

Also he is affecting Kohli's captaincy and Kohli is looking at him for everything and not being on his own! This gives insecurity among other youth! Remember Kohli has to jell with other youngsters in the team (like Rahul, Pant, Dhawan, Pandya, etc) some of them can be potential captains in future and their instincts & fresh ideas are important for today's scenario. This is how the knowledge & skill should flow, not in the reverse direction! If needed Dhoni can become the coach immediately & stay in the background (and throw out that even more useless & worst Shastri!)
 
People will realise Dhoni's value once he finally retires

If MS wasn't on the field today, I can bet my month's salary that Afg would have made a LOT more than 252.

He is the only remaining captain in world cricket who knows how to win a WC. He is still one of the best WK in ODIs in the world and I don't think anybody playing today can read the game as well as MS does. You can't buy that kind of experience and knowledge.

It's a damn shame that his batting has declined so much in the last years. But there is a lot in cricket that happens without a bat or ball in hand. And even the most knowledgeable and sensible posters here seem to discount that (not just in the case of MSD but in general).
 
the_outsider said:
If MS wasn't on the field today, I can bet my month's salary that Afg would have made a LOT more than 252.

He is the only remaining captain in world cricket who knows how to win a WC. He is still one of the best WK in ODIs in the world and I don't think anybody playing today can read the game as well as MS does. You can't buy that kind of experience and knowledge.

It's a damn shame that his batting has declined so much in the last years. But there is a lot in cricket that happens without a bat or ball in hand. And even the most knowledgeable and sensible posters here seem to discount that (not just in the case of MSD but in general).
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Then why can't he become a coach to immediate effect or non-playing captain (like Ramesh Krishnan used to do in tennis if I remember properly!)
 
RamLakhan said:
Then why can't he become a coach to immediate effect or non-playing captain (like Ramesh Krishnan used to do in tennis if I remember properly!)
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Because cricket doesn't work that way. It's a captain's game not the coach's game. It's about decisions on the field that matter. It's not like football where a manager can create a strategy and it's done. Two very different games. Every former cricket captain has said the same thing - cricket is a captain's game.
 
Yuvraj was better finisher than Dhoni.
He won so many tight games for india batting with tailenders. Even though he has lesser average due to lesser not outs.
Yuvraj scored when needed and could hit a six at will when needed.
 
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As for aggressive batsmen who punched much above their weight, I wonder why no one mentions Mark Greatbatch who was great who was simply great and aggressive between 1991-1993. And before him was Kris Srikanth with the same devil-may-care long before Jayasurya, Kalu, Afridi, Imran Nazir, Basit Ali, Ijaz Ahmed etc.
 
ind_win said:
As for aggressive batsmen who punched much above their weight, I wonder why no one mentions Mark Greatbatch who was great who was simply great and aggressive between 1991-1993. And before him was Kris Srikanth with the same devil-may-care long before Jayasurya, Kalu, Afridi, Imran Nazir, Basit Ali, Ijaz Ahmed etc.
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Mark Greatbatch had a SR of 71, I don't know how that qualifies as aggressive.
 
Joseph Gomes said:
Mark Greatbatch had a SR of 71, I don't know how that qualifies as aggressive.
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My reference about him was because he was a bits and pieces player and he still had some decent performances for 1-2 years, much above his potential.

As for strike rate, for the time, he was good. I was quoting from my memory and pulled up stats, he was doing ok 80 in 1992. And it looks like he was good during that phase.

year 1992 15 15 0 439 73 29.26 547 80.25 0 4 1 42 19
 
Thala is for doing splits and captaincy while batting. Making runs and winning the game for the team are for other guys. Thala doesn't take normal duties.
 
Dhoni is true leader and legend. He got lots of respect in my eyes after above statement. Never see any player accept his game decline with age.
 
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