VISAKHAPATNAM: Mahendra Singh Dhoni as soon as once more drew flak for his gradual strike-rate towards Australia in the first T20 International however Glenn Maxwell feels that on a low and gradual observe, that was once all of the former India captain will have done.
Dhoni managed 29 off 37 balls in India's below-par 126/7 on a observe where the ball was once not coming onto the bat. To be truthful to Dhoni, a seize of wickets fell and he also needed to stem the rot with Yuzvendra Chahal on the different finish.
READ ALSO: Bumrah's heroics in vain as Aussies clinch last-ball win in Vizag
"It (the slow strike rate) was probably fair enough. With the way the wicket was behaving, it was difficult to score for any batter, let alone a guy who is not known for his power-hitting in Chahal," Maxwell said in Dhoni's defence as his analogy of Chahal's pyrotechnics invited a couple of chuckles.
It was once this kind of observe where deliveries were maintaining low and Dhoni may arrange only one six.
"MS is obviously a world-class finisher and even he was finding it hard to hit the middle of the bat. So, I think it was right of him to try and farm the strike. He hit a six in the last over and I think that showed how difficult it was," Maxwell said.
He lauded his bowlers for maintaining Dhoni beneath tight leash.
"If you are holding MS to one boundary in the last few overs, it's a pretty good effort and also a sign of the conditions as well."
They had focused leg-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and debutant Mayank Markande and Maxwell said Bumrah and Krunal Pandya were toughest to face in such conditions.
"Bumrah and Krunal Pandya were the toughest guys to face on that wicket because they are capable of extracting a low sort of bounce and didn't give you much width to work," he said.
He also hailed guy of the match Nathan Coulter-Nile who returned with three/26 and also took two catches including that of skipper Virat Kohli (24).
"He (Coulter-Nile) was brilliant. It was probably a wicket that suited him, it was keeping low and he was bowling straight making it really hard to create angles," Maxwell said.
Dhoni managed 29 off 37 balls in India's below-par 126/7 on a observe where the ball was once not coming onto the bat. To be truthful to Dhoni, a seize of wickets fell and he also needed to stem the rot with Yuzvendra Chahal on the different finish.
READ ALSO: Bumrah's heroics in vain as Aussies clinch last-ball win in Vizag
"It (the slow strike rate) was probably fair enough. With the way the wicket was behaving, it was difficult to score for any batter, let alone a guy who is not known for his power-hitting in Chahal," Maxwell said in Dhoni's defence as his analogy of Chahal's pyrotechnics invited a couple of chuckles.
It was once this kind of observe where deliveries were maintaining low and Dhoni may arrange only one six.
"MS is obviously a world-class finisher and even he was finding it hard to hit the middle of the bat. So, I think it was right of him to try and farm the strike. He hit a six in the last over and I think that showed how difficult it was," Maxwell said.
He lauded his bowlers for maintaining Dhoni beneath tight leash.
"If you are holding MS to one boundary in the last few overs, it's a pretty good effort and also a sign of the conditions as well."
They had focused leg-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and debutant Mayank Markande and Maxwell said Bumrah and Krunal Pandya were toughest to face in such conditions.
"Bumrah and Krunal Pandya were the toughest guys to face on that wicket because they are capable of extracting a low sort of bounce and didn't give you much width to work," he said.
He also hailed guy of the match Nathan Coulter-Nile who returned with three/26 and also took two catches including that of skipper Virat Kohli (24).
"He (Coulter-Nile) was brilliant. It was probably a wicket that suited him, it was keeping low and he was bowling straight making it really hard to create angles," Maxwell said.
It was difficult track even for a player like Dhoni, says Maxwell
![It was difficult track even for a player like Dhoni, says Maxwell]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
February 25, 2019
Rating:
