Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag took a dig at MS Dhoni and CSK over the former’s batting position after their loss against RCB. Taking everyone by surprise, the ex-CSK captain decided to walk out to bat at number 9, at a time when RCB were already closing in on a huge win. Despite his 30-run cameo, CSK were handed a 50-thrashing by Patidar and co. at Chepauk.
Tiwary, Sehwag lambast Dhoni for batting at no.9
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Sehwag sarcastically remarked that Dhoni usually walked out to bat during the 19th or the 20th over and not in the 16th. He claimed that the team had already decided that MSD would only play a certain number of deliveries and he was doing just that.
“Jaldi aa gaye (He came in early). When he came, it was the 16th over. He usually comes in the 19th or 20th. Either he came early or the CSK batters lost their wickets too soon. The team would have decided that Dhoni will play only so many deliveries. It wasn’t surprising,” Sehwag said.
With his 30-run cameo, Dhoni overtook Suresh Raina to become CSK’s leading run-getter in the IPL. A vintage MSD turned back the clock to score 30 at a strike-rate of 187.50 in an innings studded with 3 fours and 2 sixes.
Sehwag’s co-panelist Manoj Tiwary claimed that Dhoni batting in the lower-order was beyond his understanding. He claimed that none of CSK’s coaches had the guts to ask Dhoni to bat up the order.
“It is beyond my understanding. With 30 runs off 16 deliveries and a strike rate of 190 which is higher than all others batters’, then he should have come in early to save the match. But he was sitting there and thinking. No one from the coaching staff can ever tell Dhoni to bat up the order. Once he decides, it is done and dusted,” Tiwary said.
