Sanjay Bangar denies deciding MS Dhoni’s batting position in 2019 World Cup semi-final vs New Zealand

Bangar denies deciding MS Dhoni’s batting position: The Indian batting coach was vocal about the veteran cricketer’s batting position.

India batting coach Sanjay Bangar was primarily held responsible for deciding former India captain and current wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s batting position during the first semi-final of the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 against New Zealand.

Amidst a batting collapse, India had sent Dinesh Karthik over Dhoni which didn’t help their case. Citing the tailor-made situation that it was for Dhoni, India were perhaps wrong in sending Karthik over Dhoni.

Bangar denies deciding MS Dhoni’s batting position

In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Bangar opened up on being made the target for taking that decision. Laying emphasis on flexibility, Bangar disclosed why the team management took that decision.

“I am really flattered that people are looking at me from this angle because I am not the sole decision-making authority. Believe me, we assess and go through a lot of situations.

SQUAD 👊💯 pic.twitter.com/2uBjgiPjIa

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) August 2, 2019

“We had also decided that we would have to be flexible in the middle order as far as No. 5, 6 and 7 were concerned because we were looking to maximize the 30-40 over slab,” Bangar was quoted as saying.

On promoting Dinesh Karthik to No. 5

Bangar further opened up on why Karthik was promoted in the batting order especially in a match as big as the semi-final and expressed his disappointment at people holding him responsible.

“Dinesh Karthik was promoted to No. 5 after consultations in the changing room to stem the fall of wickets and resurrect the innings and leave Dhoni, our most experienced player, to do the finisher’s job.

“Ravi Shastri has categorically stated that it was a team decision. So, I fail to understand why this perception that the decision to send [MS] Dhoni at No. 7 was solely mine,” Bangar said.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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