MS Dhoni dictates Colin de Grandhomme’s dismissal: The Indian wicket-keeper batsman’s instructions came good for the Indian team.
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During the second ODI of the ongoing India’s tour of New Zealand at Mount Maunganui, former India captain and current wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave specific instructions to chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav which ended up working for the Indian team.
It is worth mentioning that it is not the first time when Dhoni’s suggestion has come good for an Indian spinner. There have been numerous instances of his insights to spinners instantly working for the team. As recent as the first ODI at Napier, he had instructed Kuldeep Yadav regarding dismissing New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult.
All-rounder Colin de Grandhomme became the victim of Dhoni’s wisdom today. Speaking to former India opening batsman Aakash Chopra during a post-match show, Yadav discloses how Dhoni’s suggestion helped him to dismiss de Grandhomme.
Coming in to bat at No. 7 in the 25th over, de Grandhomme looked uncomfortable like other Kiwi batsmen against the Indian spinners. Yadav said that it was Dhoni who told him that de Grandhomme will only play deliveries which are in line with the stumps.
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It is this reason why Yadav kept on bowling the googly (which continually left the right-handed de Grandhomme). Losing out of patience, the batsman eventually played the big shot. With minimal timing on the ball, de Grandhomme was caught by Ambati Rayudu at deep mid-wicket. He ended up scoring 3 (8).
It is this skill and experience of reading the opposition batsmen which makes Dhoni the best-suited person behind the wickets for India. Earlier in the first innings, Dhoni stitched an unbeaten 53-run stand with all-rounder Kedar Jadhav for the fifth wicket.
Coming on the back of his worst year in ODIs (in terms of number of runs scored), the team management would be relieved to see Dhoni contributing in so many ways to the Indian team.
