Dhoni's Honest Analysis of how over the years his power game has gone down

[Ankit_sharma03]

Press conference video  http://www.bcci.tv/videos/id/2988/ind-vs-nz-2016-3rd-odi-ms-dhoni-press-conference

 

 “I wasn't fluently rotating the strike (batting at five or six). I feel that has hampered my batting to a certain extent. It is good that I got runs," Dhoni was very candid in his admission.

“We (in the team management) discussed this. When you are batting down the order, the approach is more result-oriented and you are looking for the big strokes. At the same time, it (his batting at four) gives a chance to other youngsters to bat lower down the order. Batting higher, I can set the pace of the innings and not worry about hitting the big shots (from the start)," he explained.

Dhoni was also very candid to admit that batting at four was more of his need than the team.

"One has to see that I am not playing Tests anymore. Lower down, I play according to what the situation demands. Batting at number four was an ideal position to express myself. It is more of my need than the team's. There are other guys who can play at 4 too but we need to think about grooming batsmen to bat five, six and seven."

"With the top order being in brilliant form, the likes of Virat, Rohit (Sharma), Shikhar (Dhawan), I was not getting to bat for a lot of overs. I have not got enough chances to bat in the last one and a half years. Since there are few ODIs this season, I only get to play one day matches in domestic cricket," he said.

 

Few things which he didnt add-

• As a captain u have more Responsibility so u tend to take more pressure which affects u after a period and for him its been more than 8 yrs
• Sourav ganguly said the "pressure just mounts by every passing year when ur captain". So comparing the start n end is not right and we saw same with sourav and many other captains. Pressure is soemthing we never discuss here and his grey hairs perfectly describes what pressure he has been for 8 yrs
• He is 35 and like other cricketers he would have his off season. Pick his Odi record of every year,  ull hardly find one bad year .Lets not go crazy for one bad year. 
• He is captain , WK and batsman a lot more responsibility and now retired from one format so its not as easy as it looks like .So when we compare of criticize him for young one we shud also thing how much that other player has on his plate.   A captain has to worry about lot of things and player has to worry about his own game
• Like bowling batting also needs rhythm and coming n facing 20-30 balls every games doesnt help it specially when u have whack rather than getting set  

[G_B_]

I think move to 4 suits him. Gives him time to settle in.

Only issue is does msd have the technique on swinging decks or seaming decks. I dont see an issue in flatter decks.

Bigger question is t20s but that is one question which can wait

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[Ankit_sharma03]

4 minutes ago, G_B_ said:

I think move to 4 suits him. Gives him time to settle in.

Only issue is does msd have the technique on swinging decks or seaming decks. I dont see an issue in flatter decks.

Bigger question is t20s but that is one question which can wait

Sent from my Wileyfox Swift using Tapatalk

well the ques is where do u finding swinging decks in ODI

IF u find one, the problem would start with dhawan n rohit 1st. I have seen dhoni bat well in SA when wkts had help and he has done well in eng in 2014 so its not that he cant. HE recovered the team from 29/5. 

In Odi, ull hardly find a track with swing, if u do all u need is to see off few overs which he can perfectly do 

[G_B_]

And to be fair pandey at 5 and raina at 6 with pandya at 7 can be the fire power

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[Ankit_sharma03]

2 minutes ago, G_B_ said:

And to be fair pandey at 5 and raina at 6 with pandya at 7 can be the fire power

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Absolutely, i was thinking same. Rahul at top wud also give us quick start and all rohit, rahul, kohli and dhoni can bat till end .

And it wud really be diff to set a field for Pandey,raina and pandya coz all have very diff hitting zones. Also with jadeja and ashwin to follow it will give them more freedom.

This also looks a terrific fielding unit as there is no jadhav,mishra

[G_B_]

24 minutes ago, Ankit_sharma03 said:

well the ques is where do u finding swinging decks in ODI

IF u find one, the problem would start with dhawan n rohit 1st. I have seen dhoni bat well in SA when wkts had help and he has done well in eng in 2014 so its not that he cant. HE recovered the team from 29/5. 

In Odi, ull hardly find a track with swing, if u do all u need is to see off few overs which he can perfectly do 

In the champions trophy in england for one.

 

Swing in England is not based on the pitch but rather on the overcast conditions, typically found in June. Number 4 might be a position to high for him. Its all speculation though, knowing the British weather have glorious sunshine or wet weather.

[adi B]

29 minutes ago, G_B_ said:

And to be fair pandey at 5 and raina at 6 with pandya at 7 can be the fire power

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True,pandey needs to be groomed as the new finisher.not convinced with pandya but still should be given more chances at 7.dhoni should defo bat at 4,he's no longer the finisher he used to be and his firepower has diminished,he's better of setting a chase or a total.

[Bleed-Blue]

Seriously Raina still.. i would even still prefer Yuvraj to him.

[Ankit_sharma03]

44 minutes ago, G_B_ said:

In the champions trophy in england for one.

 

Swing in England is not based on the pitch but rather on the overcast conditions, typically found in June. Number 4 might be a position to high for him. Its all speculation though, knowing the British weather have glorious sunshine or wet weather.

If that happens trust me worry about openers more, dhoni has done well in eng in those overcast conditions and is gritty will put a price on his wkt

33 minutes ago, Bleed-Blue said:

Seriously Raina still.. i would even still prefer Yuvraj to him.

I dnt think anybody wud mind inform yuvraj singh but when he is out of form he becomes absent minded . I still hope yuvraj singh comes n takes that place 6 as he is a better bowler and batsman than raina and infact a better hitter to . He is one of the biggest asset any team could have

 

No matter how shitty raina has been but LOI needs packages and utility players who can contribute in every way

Edited October 23, 2016 by Ankit_sharma03

[Lannister]

 He took his whole career to realize he never really was suited to bat down the order. If he had to come early then he had to take more responsibility, so it was a convenient ploy of him to hide behind the tail enders.  

Edited October 24, 2016 by laaloo
Stop abusing

[rkt.india]

7 hours ago, G_B_ said:

And to be fair pandey at 5 and raina at 6 with pandya at 7 can be the fire power

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No Raina please. Enough of him already.

6 hours ago, Ankit_sharma03 said:

If that happens trust me worry about openers more, dhoni has done well in eng in those overcast conditions and is gritty will put a price on his wkt

I dnt think anybody wud mind inform yuvraj singh but when he is out of form he becomes absent minded . I still hope yuvraj singh comes n takes that place 6 as he is a better bowler and batsman than raina and infact a better hitter to . He is one of the biggest asset any team could have

 

No matter how shitty raina has been but LOI needs packages and utility players who can contribute in every way

dont need Raina or Yuvraj. There is no dearth of new talent, why bring back has beens? Selectors keep recycling Raina who was dropped because of poor performance and suddenly he comes back again for this series. Now where is Gurkeerat Mann who play 1-2 ODIs in Aus? Suddenly, he does not find a place who had originally replaced Raina.

[Trichromatic]

2 minutes ago, BlueBlood said:

Raina is a match winner. I have seen Raina win us games from unwinnable situations. 2011 WC SF with Yuvi is prime example and he is only 29 years old. Only 1 year or so older than Kohli. He has a bright future in LOI cricket especially as a finisher and him being left handed helps greatly as it creates new angles to score.

 

The biggest headache and weakness is opening order - Rohit, Rahane and Dhawan suck. They just do not put a price on their wicket. I think Rahul seems fine for now but we need another aggressive player up front who can score a quick fire 40-50 runs in first 10 overs. Someone like a Sehwag. I think they can try switching Pandey and Rohit or something like that.

 

That will give us a deadly strong ODI team. Because Kohli and Dhoni at #3 and #4 is excellent with Pandey, Raina, Pandya, Jadeja, Ashwin following them. Even Shami/Bhuvi and Umesh showed they can bat a bit.

 

 

 

 

Dhawan has been very successful as opener in ODIs.

[rkt.india]

36 minutes ago, BlueBlood said:

Raina was a match winner. I have seen Raina win us games from unwinnable situations. 2011 WC SF with Yuvi is prime example and he is only 29 years old. Only 1 year or so older than Kohli. He has a bright future in LOI cricket especially as a finisher and him being left handed helps greatly as it creates new angles to score.

 

The biggest headache and weakness is opening order - Rohit, Rahane and Dhawan suck. They just do not put a price on their wicket. I think Rahul seems fine for now but we need another aggressive player up front who can score a quick fire 40-50 runs in first 10 overs. Someone like a Sehwag. I think they can try switching Pandey and Rohit or something like that.

 

That will give us a deadly strong ODI team. Because Kohli and Dhoni at #3 and #4 is excellent with Pandey, Raina, Pandya, Jadeja, Ashwin following them. Even Shami/Bhuvi and Umesh showed they can bat a bit.

 

 

 

 

corrected

[Ankit_sharma03]

4 hours ago, rkt.india said:

No Raina please. Enough of him already.

dont need Raina or Yuvraj. There is no dearth of new talent, why bring back has beens? Selectors keep recycling Raina who was dropped because of poor performance and suddenly he comes back again for this series. Now where is Gurkeerat Mann who play 1-2 ODIs in Aus? Suddenly, he does not find a place who had originally replaced Raina.

Doesnt mean a player is over, i want to them to get selected by performing and earning it. M not saying give a place to yuvraj singh on his reputation. The reason we his name keeps popping up is due to kind of asset he is. He can bowl and almsot give u 10 overs how many 6th option bowler wud do that, He can still tonk the ball and at 6 he still can do well , At 6 ur technique wont be tested much so those position are ok for raina n yuvi. A major reason for Even raina dip was project Raina. He is not suited to bat at 4 but at 6 he is suited. 

 

M pretty sure team management realized that mann wasnt upto the standars they want, it has happened before when many players have sat on bench and never given many chance eg- ishwar pandey. Team management is more knowledgable than us. He didnt even get picked for A-tours means may b they didnt like some aspect about him.

 

And who are these players ready and knocking on door for position 6........if someone is good he cant be kept out for long. A good player will always find his place take KL rahul for example. 

[Ankit_sharma03]

4 hours ago, BlueBlood said:

Raina is a match winner. I have seen Raina win us games from unwinnable situations. 2011 WC SF with Yuvi is prime example and he is only 29 years old. Only 1 year or so older than Kohli. He has a bright future in LOI cricket especially as a finisher and him being left handed helps greatly as it creates new angles to score.

 

The biggest headache and weakness is opening order - Rohit, Rahane and Dhawan suck. They just do not put a price on their wicket. I think Rahul seems fine for now but we need another aggressive player up front who can score a quick fire 40-50 runs in first 10 overs. Someone like a Sehwag. I think they can try switching Pandey and Rohit or something like that.

 

That will give us a deadly strong ODI team. Because Kohli and Dhoni at #3 and #4 is excellent with Pandey, Raina, Pandya, Jadeja, Ashwin following them. Even Shami/Bhuvi and Umesh showed they can bat a bit.

Im not sure Raina being a match, he has ability but no consistency. But he is a terrific utility cricketer and a complete package u want in ur team. HE is really suited to bat at 6. The whole idea of him batting above dhoni didnt help team, himself and dhoni. At 6 he knows he has to attack but at 4 he looked confused. So he is best suited at 6 and it also provides a left hander at 6 between Pandey and Pandya . He is also electrifying in the field and can get away with few quick good overs. 

 

Experience is something we never talk in ICF , we are so adamant that we wanan throw old players and bring in new that we dont value the workd Experience. Between both of them they need someone exp and raina's exp would help them to.  

[jusarrived]

2 hours ago, Ankit_sharma03 said:

Im not sure Raina being a match, he has ability but no consistency. But he is a terrific utility cricketer and a complete package u want in ur team. HE is really suited to bat at 6. The whole idea of him batting above dhoni didnt help team, himself and dhoni. At 6 he knows he has to attack but at 4 he looked confused. So he is best suited at 6 and it also provides a left hander at 6 between Pandey and Pandya . He is also electrifying in the field and can get away with few quick good overs. 

 

Experience is something we never talk in ICF , we are so adamant that we wanan throw old players and bring in new that we dont value the workd Experience. Between both of them they need someone exp and raina's exp would help them to.  

India has seen only 4 players who understand chasing in recent years , thats MSD , Yuvi , Raina and Virat . 

I would put MSD and Virat in a league above Yuvi and Raina but only marginally , the only reason being their ability to build an innings and score big apart from that as pure pressure players there is not much difference between these 4 batsmen .

The difference though is the approach , Virat and MSD are very similar early on to their innings , you put Virat at 5 , I will bet more often than not he will start with a sr of less than 70 . They keep it simple in the early part of the innings , percentage shots , running between the wickets the idea being getting as close to the target as possible before taking any risk . 

Raina and Yuvi are similar cos they do not take much pressure on them selves , if its their day they will finish the match much earlier than Virat or MSD , the flip side though is that they tend to take lot more risks and thus relatively inconsistent . Stats will not show how these guys have contributed to our wins over the years .

 

We had a great team cos we had some of the best all time chasers at the same point of time , most teams would be lucky to have one .

 

Virat is going to around for few years , but we do not have a replacement for other 3 . I think we need at least 2 more batsmen who are good under pressure .

The only one i can think of is Sarfaraz at this point .  

 

[sandeep]

Hate him all you want but have to respect the man's honesty.  Haven't seen many cricketers own up to their short-comings like this, whether from sub-continent or anywhere else.  

[G_B_]

did not realise the anti raina sentiment... I will be the first to say he does not have the technique outside the sub. But at 6 can certainly produce quick fire 20-30 runs down the order.

 

I am not saying dont play Kedar, but he is another batter who can do that and also will face technique issues outside the sub

[Ankit_sharma03]

26 minutes ago, sandeep said:

Hate him all you want but have to respect the man's honesty.  Haven't seen many cricketers own up to their short-comings like this, whether from sub-continent or anywhere else.  

True he has been very honest with his assessment as always and so has been virat.

The reason they have been at top is cause of being honest to themselves. We all can criticise MS for long but in reality he has done the toghest job of finisher for long with the pressure of Keeping and captaincy with consistency. Karthik n patel couldnt even handle keeping alone. This man may be would be in 1st year with poor stats. 

 

Just felt this hate has gone to over the board with him like too muchh...

 

[tweaker]

Selectors have kept the squad unchanged for the next 2 odi