For long now cricket fans all over the world have been calling for MS Dhoni to bat a little higher up the order, because they feel that batting down at 6 or 7 lowers Dhoni’s ability to make an impact in the game.
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And boy is Dhoni an impact player?
Virat Kohli and co. have been guilty of saving him until the end of the innings in both T20s and ODIs. Hardik Pandya has been constantly sent ahead of Dhoni in international games, but with his performances in the IPL, I think Dhoni should be India’s constant number 5 up until the 2019 World Cup.
In the post-match presentation, Dhoni expressed his interest of playing up the order, because it gives him a few more overs to get in and also allows him to surprise the bowlers with respect to when he is going to take the attack to them.
It is very important for us to get a good platform and then I can promote myself up the order. It is important for us to get off to a good start and not always in terms of runs but get a good partnership. Then I can promote myself to 4 or 5 and then I have an extra batsman behind me. So, I take the risk when needed. If you bat too down the order, you don’t know when to go after the bowlers. It is more fun when you go in at the 8th or the 10th over, when the bowler does not know when you are going to go for it and keep him guessing.” Dhoni said.
Will Virat Kohli take cues from IPL 2018 and promote MS Dhoni up the order for India as well?
