In the aftermath of MS Dhoni‘s explosive yet contentious innings, cricket pundit Simon Doull offered a divergent viewpoint. Dhoni’s much-anticipated IPL batting debut for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) against Delhi Capitals in Visakhapatnam on March 31 ignited widespread acclaim. However, as CSK faced the daunting task of chasing 72 runs from just 24 balls, Dhoni’s approach drew scrutiny.
Initially, Dhoni’s aggressive boundary-hitting sparked hopes of a miraculous comeback. Yet, as the innings progressed, Doull observed a recurring pattern. Despite the presence of Ravindra Jadeja, Dhoni monopolized the strike, declining singles and accumulating numerous dot balls, particularly when the required run rate soared.
Simon Doull, speaking on Cricbuzz, expressed disbelief at Dhoni’s strategy, deeming it ill-advised given the team’s pursuit of victory. He questioned Dhoni’s decision to refuse singles, especially with Jadeja at the crease, highlighting the latter’s proven ability to clear the boundaries.
“There was lot of ‘oohs and aahs’ about Dhoni’s innings. But he blocked a lot of balls. he faced a lot of dots. Then he started to not take runs. I couldn’t believe what I was watching. I know he is the great MS Dhoni but it was a poor call. Really poor call not to take run. You are still trying to win a game.” Doull said.
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“I know he was batting after a long time, first time he came out to bat in this season and he is probably thinking at some stage maybe he got to find some form but I didn’t agree with it. I didn’t agree with what happen in that situation. To me it was a really poor look,” he added.
As CSK gears up to face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) led by Pat Cummins, Doull’s critique raises questions about Dhoni’s approach and its implications for the team’s performance.
“It’s not like you have got a bunny on the other hand. You have Jadeja at the other end. Think about the final last year, what happened in the final last year… six and four needed of the last two balls to win the title. It’s not like he can’t hit the ball out of the park,” Doull concluded.
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