MS Dhoni has been a master behind the stumps, using his unconventional flicks to get people run out time and time again. While he is heavily praised for that trait of his, he is sometimes not given enough credit for the way he does his homework for each batsman, studying his strengths and setting fields accordingly.
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Keiron Pollard is known for his six hitting abilities, but more so for his six hitting ability down the ground. That’s the area he favours, that’s the area he milks. The cricketing world knows that and while not many have exploited that area of Pollard’s batting for their own benefit, MS Dhoni has set straight fields to him in the past(during his time at CSK), to get him holed out right in front of the sight screen.
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And today was another such instance when Dhoni asked Smith to put a fielder just in front of the sight screen when Zampa was operating. Pollard had already hit Zampa for a six in the over and was looking to counter attack. Zampa was egged on by his captain to keep throwing the ball up, enticing the big Pollard to go for his favourite shot, and then just hoping for the sluggish Hyderabad pitch to do its bit.
Zampa delivered for his captain, and Dhoni’s intelligence helped RPS get rid of the dangerous Pollard.
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