MS Dhoni has always been chastised for his slow starts that apparently put the other batsmen under huge pressure often resulting in wickets. But the wicketkeeper-batsman makes up for the slow starts with fiery finishes to his innings. The 37-year-old, one of the best finishers in limited overs cricket, had a similar outing during India vs West Indies (IND vs WI) game in ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. India vs West Indies Live Cricket Score of ICC World Cup 2019 Match.
Dhoni, who came to the crease with India reeling at 140/4 in the 29th over, went on to make 56 (not out) from 61 deliveries that comprised of three fours and two sixes. The former Indian skipper survived two stumping chances en route to his 72nd ODI half-century. His knock of 61 runs, 16 of which came in the final over, propelled India to a respectable score of 268/7 in 50 overs. MS Dhoni Survives Not Once but Twice as Shai Hope Makes Hilarious Stumping Blunder During IND vs WI CWC 2019 Match (Watch Video).
MS Dhoni has the Worst Run-Rate in CWC 2019:
Of players to have faced 150+ balls in this World Cup, no player has a worse True Run Rate than MS Dhoni. True Run Rate measures difference between a player's run rate and the average run rate for each over. In this tournament, Dhoni's True Run Rate is -1.2. #CWC19 #WIvInd
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) June 27, 2019
Former Indian cricketer V.V.S Laxman even said on air that Dhoni would regret his slow knock. Dhoni must change his approach at the start of his innings. "(Dhoni's) strike-rate at the start of the innings was close to 45-50 and that is something that put the pressure on his team and his partner. It's all good if you can finish off the innings in style but at the start, if he can show that positive intent especially against a spinner like Fabian Allen who is not going to give you room neither bowl short. I think someday MS Dhoni will regret the way he started off his innings. It's an area he requires to address.," Laxman could be heard saying. Virat Kohli Becomes Fastest Batsman to Score 20,000 International Runs, Twitterati Hail King Kohli!
Dhoni Puts Pressure on Other Batsmen?
By slowing down the scoring in the vital middle overs, Dhoni puts pressure on other batsmen to play risky shots like the one that got Virat #CWCUP2019
— Minhaz Merchant (@MinhazMerchant) June 27, 2019
But his slow knock once again frustrated a section of the fans, who felt that the knock prevented India from posting a higher score on board. At one stage of his innings, Dhoni was on 20 runs from 40 deliveries which forced Hardik Pandya into trying to play the big shots. But Dhoni recovered well to catch up with the gap between run and balls. He finished with a strike-rate of 91.80, which was only second to Pandya’s 121 SR among the Indian batsmen. The comeback from the veteran prompted his die-hard fans in slamming Dhoni’s critics for picking him out at every slightest opportunity. Take a look at some of the tweets.
50 for MS Dhoni!
It's his first #CWC19 half-century and 72nd in ODI cricket! #WIvIND #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/wsBhWpnV7f
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 27, 2019
Daddy Innings From Dhoni
Always thala🔥 56* pic.twitter.com/G1lT06AtG8
— Navin J Navin (@navinjnivan) June 27, 2019
The Innings Not at All Slow:
Well Played #Dhoni. Let his bat do the talking as always. Don't tell me it was slow. Coming in at 140/4 at 28.5 and held one end till the 50th Over and better Strike rate than most of #TeamIndia Batsman.
Now STFU haters and Cheer for India. pic.twitter.com/LnEuGyhV0u
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) June 27, 2019
Hide Dhoni Haters
Me showing last over to Dhoni Haters#INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/Zsiz3Ei5Fo
— संगम आर्य (@SangamK78323689) June 27, 2019
Dhoni Still the Best Finisher?
Retweet if you think Dhoni is still the best finisher ❤️. #INDvsWI
— Neeta Ambani (@Neetahoon) June 27, 2019
Dhoni and Last Overs:
Dhoni during the last over Today. 😉#INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/mF6ozNzHXL
— Shekhar (@ShekharZoom) June 27, 2019
Captain Forever
90% of us got debuted under you...You will be the captain always ❤️❤️❤️ #Dhoni 😎 THALA #INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/2SygKtALCO
— 🔥MONSTER MAARI™😍MSD (@gunasekaran7gc) June 27, 2019
India are the only unbeaten team so far in CWC 2019 with nine points from five matches. They have won four while their match against New Zealand was abandoned due to rain. meanwhile, West Indies have just three points from six games and needs to win all of their remaining three games to keep alive their slim chances of making it to the semi-finals.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 27, 2019 10:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).