IPL 2021- “MS Dhoni Is Not the Same Batsman as Five Years Ago”- Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir

Former cricketer and sitting Member of Parliament from East Delhi, Gautam Gambhir feels that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni needs to bring a few changes in his game plan and batting position because he is not the same batsman that he used to be a few years ago.

MS Dhoni batted at number 7 and was dismissed for a 2-ball duck, inside edging a pull shot on the stumps off Avesh Khan. This was one of the major reasons for CSK’s loss against the Delhi Capitals.

MS Dhoni’s batting strength has clearly been declining: after two blockbusters season in 2018 (455 runs) and 2019 (416 runs), the right-hander could manage to score only 200 runs last year in the UAE at a strike rate of 116.28 with a best of 47*.

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Former KKR leader Gambhir believes that a captain should be leading from the front, setting an example with the bat for others in the side to follow. This according to him is not possible for Dhoni to do at number 7.

Avesh Khan, MS Dhoni
Avesh Khan bowled MS Dhoni for a duck. Image-Twitter

 

“MS Dhoni should be batting higher, that’s what matters because ultimately people should start leading from the front. We keep mentioning this thing that a leader needs to lead from the front. You can’t be leading, when you’re batting at No.7,” Gambhir said while speaking with Star Sports.

Dhoni can’t start taking on the bowlers from the word go: Gautam Gambhir

The 39-year-old thinks that the key reason why he believes Dhoni shouldn’t bat at number 7 is his lessened finishing prowess. Gautam Gambhir maintains that the former India skipper is not the same batter he used to be a few years ago, where he could be banked to finish the game and was a marauder of death bowling. Instead, now, he needs time to settle in, hence, Gambhir reckons the CSK skipper should promote himself at number 4 or 5.

MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni (Image Credit: Twitter)

“Plus, he is not the MS Dhoni, which he used to be probably four or five years back, where he could just come in and start taking on the bowlers from the word go. For me, I think he needs to bat at number four/ five. Nothing below that,” Gambhir concluded.

About Gajanand Baheti 349 Articles
I am a big-time cricket fan and love to write about it. Other than writing and cricket, a good cup of coffee is what I enjoy the most!

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