MS Dhoni is one of the best One Day International batsmen in the history of the game. Over the years, Dhoni has batted at many different positions and proved that he is one of the greatest ever.
However, Dhoni’s main identity is of a finisher. In the last 10 years, Dhoni has been an absolute rock for India in the middle order. His ability to stay calm and composed under pressure is his greatest strength. He has, time and again, proved that he is one of the best finishers in the world.
In the third ODI of the ongoing series between West Indies and India, Dhoni once again proved that he is not over yet and there is still a lot of cricket left in him. When India were in a spot of bother after losing 3 quick wickets, Dhoni came out and batted in his trademark style. He took his time initially, but once he got his eye in, he played shots all around the wicket and took India to a respectable total.
Dhoni scored 78 runs off 70 balls and anchored the Indian innings. He got good support from Ajinkya Rahane, who carried on his good from the second ODI, and Kedar Jadhav, who came in to bat at number 6 and supported Dhoni in reconstructing the innings. It wasn’t an easy to wicket to bat as there was dual bounce and it had a lot of assistance for spinners. But, Dhoni showed good technique and astute shot selection. He kept rotating the strike and put pressure on West Indies bowlers by converting ones into twos and twos into threes.
We all know that Dhoni is a street-smart cricketer and he always aware of the things happening in the middle. He reads the game as good as anybody and changes his game according to the need of the situation.
During the third ODI, Dhoni went down the track off Bishoo’s bowling, but the leggie saw him coming and bowled it wide outside the off. But, Dhoni was well aware of the situation and he moved back very quickly and reached his crease without even trying to hit the ball.
It was a very crucial moment in the game because had Dhoni gone through his shot, he would have been out stumped, putting India under a lot of pressure. But, Dhoni being Dhoni, made the right move and showed great presence of mind.
Dhoni has played some great innings in his career, but the one he played in the third ODI is up there. It was a very important knock considering the situation of the match, and also the series.
GIF: MS Dhoni Shows How To Avoid Stumping While Batting
Not just affecting a quick stumping, MS Dhoni does know how to get away as well. (via Sony Six) #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/BKzA1zPhAL
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) July 1, 2017
