Experts back Dhoni at No. 5 in Indian ODI team

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/experts-back-dhoni-at-no-5-in-indian-odi-team/articleshow/64372493.cms

After a stupendous show with the bat higher up the order for Chennai Super Kings, the 2018 IPL champion side, experts are now backing MS Dhoni to bat at No. 5 instead of No. 6 for the Indian ODI team. The numbers confirm that if the former Indian captain comes up in the batting order, Indian team is more benefitted

Former manager-cum-selector of the Indian team Gaekwad said that Dhoni isn't getting younger and, therefore, he would need a few deliveries to settle down before launching his trademark strokes. So, Dhoni at No. 5 is the best way forward.

"Dhoni's ability to control the game is amazing. If he gets the time to settle down by batting up the order, he will be a tough nut to crack for the opposition teams. I would really make him bat at No. 5. I also believe that Dhoni batting higher up the order will give him the allowance to comfortably win games for India," Gaekwad said while heaping praises on the CSK captain.

Another former chairman of the selection committee Srikkanth too agreed that the 2011 World Cup winning captain should bat at No. 5. "Dhoni has shown what he is capable of doing while batting up the order. And there is no better batsman than him in that position. I would cast my vote in favour of Dhoni batting at No.5," Srikkanth said.

Former leg-spinner Sivaramakrishnan said that Dhoni has shown remarkable batsmanship in the recently concluded IPL and there is no better way to use him other than the No. 5 position, which was his batting position for the Indian team. He also predicted that Dhoni could go beyond the 2019 World Cup.

"A player like Dhoni can't be used as low as No. 6. He can't be seen playing last five to seven overs in an ODI game. The kind of batting he has shown in the IPL, I think he should continue with the same batting order like he did in the CSK matches. It will only help the team and world's biggest all-rounder should get that luxury," Siva added.

However, Rathore is of the opinion that Dhoni is known to the best finisher of the game and so his batting order can't be changed. "He is the best finisher and we have seen in this year's IPL what he can also do with the bat. He also answered his critics well by finishing almost all the games he batted for CSK," Rathore said.

 

Even Wassan said that promoting Dhoni ahead of other full-time batsmen won't look good for the team because the CSK skipper is also a wicket-keeping all-rounder. "Either he could be opening the innings like Adam Gilchrist which he isn't going to happen or he should continue to play the role of finisher.

 

 

Unlike Gilchrist who was used a pinch-hitter in the initial part of his career, Dhoni batting at a little below will only ensure more depth to the Indian batting line-up. It could be dilemma of the Indian team to put him up ahead of the regular batsmen for the fear of undermining them. But based on certain situation, I would love to see Dhoni batting up the order for sure, but it can't be a thumb rule," Wassan added.

[LORD_analyst]

i back him at no.11

[speedheat]

Should bat at railway platform where he used to sell tickets

#rishabhpantfor2019wc

[sandeep]

Unless India is 3/50 in an ODI, Dhoni should bat at 7 or 8.  

[Laaloo]

He should bat after Bhuvi.

[Pollack]

14 minutes ago, Laaloo said:

He should bat after Bhuvi.

Tbh won't mind him batting just before bumrah in normal matches. In low scoring matches he can come at no 5.

[speedheat]

Dhoni should bat after kuldeep and just before bumrah.. Credit where due, dhoni is better batsman than bumrah.

[maniac]

I looked through the OP to see who these “experts” are

[Austin 3:!6]

This should be our LOI team for next WC

 

Dhawan

Rohit

Rahul

Kohli

Dhoni

Pant/KD

Pandya

Kuldeep/Chahal

Bhuvi

Umesh

Bumrah

[Ankit_sharma03]

Our team has others issues like NO.4 n 6,other pacers  yet ull see a lot of time being wasted on every dhoni forum

 

[Garuda]

Seeing the comments below, I have come to my senses. Dhoni should retire right now. He shouldn't play unlike some little fella who played until he was 40.5

[LORD_analyst]

3 hours ago, Garuda said:

Seeing the comments below, I have come to my senses. Dhoni should retire right now. He shouldn't play unlike some little fella who played until he was 40.5

yup...he too like dhoni was a selfish bloke .

[Pollack]

3 hours ago, Ankit_sharma03 said:

Our team has others issues like NO.4 n 6,other pacers  yet ull see a lot of time being wasted on every dhoni forum

 

No those can be easily solved. Rahul at 4 and hardik at 6. Karthik/Pant  at 5.Now let's get back to throwing dhoni out.

 

[raki05]

12 minutes ago, Pollack said:

No those can be easily solved. Rahul at 4 and hardik at 6. Karthik/Pant  at 5.Now let's get back to throwing dhoni out.

 

[Ankit_sharma03]

29 minutes ago, Pollack said:

No those can be easily solved.

 good morning pollack chachu.........dhoni pe itna bhari crush ke duniya dikhni band ho gyi 

[velu]

#5 is too low for dhoni , not enough time to consolidate

seriosuly , his wekaness is spinners , that will get nullified outside asia 

[vvvslaxman]

He is usually a good percentage cricketer even with those lunges. But can someone share his ODI stat as captain and ODI stat after he gave up captaincy .

[Shunya]

Dhoni at 4 should be the way forward.

[jalebi_bhai]

Not a bad suggestion actually. KL Rahul is a must in the ODI team for me so I'd play him at 4. Dhoni, Jadhav and Pandya to follow at 5,6 and 7. 

 

Ideally, I'd like to have Pant in the middle order instead of Jadhav but since Kohli prefers experienced players, I don't see Pant becoming a regular in the first team until after the WC.

[WC2011INDIA]

Karthik is a MUST. Guy is in very good form and needs to be backed as a finisher in shorter formats.