Dhoni’s gymnastic move saves him from getting stumped: The Indian wicket-keeper batsman was all about athleticism at Bengaluru.
During the second T20I of the ongoing Australia’s tour of India at Bengaluru, former India captain and current wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni silenced his critics yet again by aiding India captain Virat Kohli in powering India to 190-4 in the allotted quota of 20 overs.
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Dhoni, who came in to bat at No. 5 in the 11th over, didn’t undergo his usual contemporary process of getting his eye in. On the sixth ball which he faced, Dhoni stepped out to hit D’Arcy Short for a six over deep mid-wicket boundary.
Kohli and Dhoni complete 500 partnership runs in T20Is.
They average over 100 as a pair.#IndvAus
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) February 27, 2019
The MS Dhoni entertainment comes to an end. He departs after scoring a brilliant 40 off 23 deliveries.#TeamIndia 174/4 with 5 more balls to go #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/zXJ3LSKQEm
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 27, 2019
In the next two overs, the 37-year old cricketer scored boundaries off Pat Cummins and Jhye Richardson. By this time, Dhoni had given the impression of looking set for a quintessential Dhoni innings.
Dhoni plays a pivotal role
With Kohli completing his 20th T20I half-century at the other end, Dhoni played a pivotal role at the other end. The veteran cricketer cashed in on the part-timer in Short as he belted him for a couple of sixes and a four in the 18th over of the Indian innings.
Most sixes for India in T20Is
102 Rohit Sharma
74 Yuvraj
58 S Raina
50 MS Dhoni#INDvAUS— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) February 27, 2019
Dhoni-Kohli classic. Loved the way they went about accelerating. Also felt that Finch missed a trick or two…18th over form Darcy was a tactical blooper. #IndvAus
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 27, 2019
While Dhoni’s plentiful fans would have wanted him to score a half-century, that wasn’t the case as he eventually mis-times a Cummins delivery to Australia captain Aaron Finch at long-off in the last over. Dhoni ended up scoring 40 (23) with the help of three fours and three sixes.
On the second ball which Dhoni faced, he tried to step out against Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa. With Zampa reading the same, he was successful in beating Dhoni. While Australia wicket-keeper Peter Handscomb dislodge the bails and appealed for a stumping dismissal, Dhoni’s athletic effort emulating a gymnast saved him from getting stumped.
Watch the full video below:
Dhoni’s brilliance…!! pic.twitter.com/kLv4jx4BDm
— Vidshots (@Vidshots1) February 27, 2019