Team management should give MS Dhoni freedom to attack from start, says Harbhajan Singh

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https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/icc-world-cup-2019-team-management-should-give-ms-dhoni-freedom-to-attack-from-start-says-harbhajan-singh/story-5b8OpfSkO9oiuEUihAz4sN.html

 

A trend shows that Dhoni has been taking the game deep before going for a final assault but his one-time national and current CSK teammate wants him to go back to his big-hitting ways.

“I feel he is at his best when he hits from the onset. Some of his best innings have come when he started the onslaught straightaway. I feel the team management should give him and Hardik Pandya the licence to bat the way they want to. No restrictions, only go for the jugular at No 5,” Harbhajan told PTI during an interview.

For Harbahajan, top-order batsmen Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul can build the innings, so Dhoni has the freedom to attack.

But what about his problems in the middle overs when spinners like Mitchell Santner or Nathan Lyon will be operational?

”That exactly is my point. The Dhoni of the old would hit a six off the second ball off any spinner and those are big sixes. He should and can still do it as I have seen at the CSK nets. Uske chhakkon mein bahot jaan hai (He still hits mighty sixes),” said the member of the victorious 2011 World Cup squad.

Harbhajan wants Dhoni to have the same intimidating presence that he and Virender Sehwag had some during their best years of international cricket.

“I can tell you how a bowler’s mind works. Suppose I am bowling to Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell in tandem, I would be more worried about KP than Bell. I could bowl a couple of dot balls to KP but he had the ability to take me on. Bell on the other hand would push for singles. Dhoni like KP can intimidate bowlers. He has that effect,” said one of India’s greatest spinners.

On the team front, Harbhajan said that there is a bit of worry about the number 4 and 6 slots going into the World Cup.

“I don’t see anyone except for KL Rahul fitting into that No. 4 slot. So that’s a bit of a worry and also No 6 slot where Kedar Jadhav will play. I hope that Jadhav gets fully fit before the South Africa game (June 5) as it is a very important slot,” said the member of the two-time World championship winning team.

Apart from world’s best batsman Virat Kohli, the other game changer for India would be Jasprit Bumrah.

“Sachin Tendulkar called him world’s best fast bowler at the moment. Indeed he is, for the impact he has created. If you take Bumrah out of that India line-up, it’s like you rip a heart out of the body. He is that precious. He is your Virat Kohli of Indian bowling,” said Harbhajan.

Harbhajan’s four semi-finalists are India, Australia, England and New Zealand.

Asked why no West Indies or Pakistan, the veteran off-spinner opined, “I am not saying they can’t but New Zealand is a team that does well in big events. Best part of that set up is their boys do the basics well on a consistent basis. That makes a huge difference in a big event,” he concluded.

 

 

[vvvslaxman]

If Dhoni lifts his game up somehow India won't have to worry about longish tail. Him and Pandya can be destructive down the order.  If KL joins the party alongwith Rohit we will be unstoppable. We won't even have to worry about the other batsman in the middle.

[mancalledsting]

Bhaji, I think he's had that licence since the last 14 years. 

[kosingh]

Dhoni is the team management. 

 

Kohli, Shastri, Bangar and Arun are his puppets. 

[The Dark Horse]

Bhajji talking out of his rear again

[jf1gp_1]

Yes Dhoni please attack hopefully then we might see you bat with SR of 90

[Real McCoy]

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And while he praised Dhoni for bringing a lot more to the table than just his batting, he also said the former India captain was not hitting the ball well recently.

'Yes there is no doubt that Dhoni brings a lot to the table apart from his batting, whether he is in form or not. Obviously we have seen that he is not hitting the ball as well as we have seen,' Harbhajan told NDTV.

https://www.scoopwhoop.com/harbhajan-is-so-unhappy-that-he-didnt-get-picked-for-india-that/#.oi9pkwg5s

 

He said this 2 years ago. Looking for put his name in the list for 2020 IPL

[Pollack]

16 hours ago, vvvslaxman said:

If Dhoni lifts his game up somehow India won't have to worry about longish tail. Him and Pandya can be destructive down the order.  If KL joins the party alongwith Rohit we will be unstoppable. We won't even have to worry about the other batsman in the middle.

Delusions carried over from IPL. Dhoni has always been good in IPL. We all know it. He isn't going to risk his averages in Internationals.

[vvvslaxman]

4 hours ago, Pollack said:

Delusions carried over from IPL. Dhoni has always been good in IPL. We all know it. He isn't going to risk his averages in Internationals.

I have not even used the word IPL there. I just said "if he lifts his game up". 

[Gollum]

Chup be chuski chucker .

 

TM should tell Dhoni to bend down, turn his back and zor se laath mar ke bhagao saale ko...Dhoni hatao, Indian team bachao. 

Edited May 19, 2019 by Gollum

[putrevus]

Bhajji you have gone mad.Dhoni never could bat with freedom, he never had that ability bar one or two innings early in his career.

[Turning_track]

Bhajji giving dramatic statements as usual & LOL at giving him freedom. If Bhajji thinks that MSD could perform like English middle order guys then good luck living in La La Land.

[Real McCoy]

2 hours ago, Gollum said:

Chup be chuski chucker .

 

TM should tell Dhoni to bend down, turn his back and zor se laath mar ke bhagao saale ko...Dhoni hatao, Indian team bachao. 

Right now if Dhoni hatao, then Kohli will be nange