NEW DELHI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni's six-hitting prowess remains to be intact and the Indian crew control will have to give him the license to assault from the word pass all through the World Cup, suggests senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.
A development displays that Dhoni has been taking the sport deep ahead of going for a final attack however his one-time national and current CSK teammate needs him to return to his big-hitting ways.
World Cup Schedule
"I feel he is at his best when he hits from the onset. Some of his best innings have come when he started the onslaught straightaway. I feel the team management should give him and Hardik Pandya the licence to bat the way they want to. No restrictions, only go for the jugular at No 5," Harbhajan said.
For Harbahajan, top-order batsmen Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul can build the innings, so Dhoni has the freedom to assault.
But what about his issues in the middle overs when spinners like Mitchell Santner or Nathan Lyon will probably be operational?
"That exactly is my point. The Dhoni of the old would hit a six off the second ball off any spinner and those are big sixes. He should and can still do it as I have seen at the CSK nets. Uske chhakkon mein bahot jaan hai (He still hits mighty sixes)," said the member of the victorious 2011 World Cup squad.
Harbhajan needs Dhoni to have the similar intimidating presence that he and Virender Sehwag had some all through their absolute best years of international cricket.
"I can tell you how a bowler's mind works. Suppose I am bowling to Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell in tandem, I would be more worried about KP than Bell. I could bowl a couple of dot balls to KP but he had the ability to take me on. Bell on the other hand would push for singles. Dhoni like KP can intimidate bowlers. He has that effect," said one of India's biggest spinners.
On the crew entrance, Harbhajan said that there is a little bit of fear concerning the number 4 and 6 slots going into the World Cup.
"I don't see anyone except for KL Rahul fitting into that No. 4 slot. So that's a bit of a worry and also No. 6 slot where Kedar Jadhav will play. I hope that Jadhav gets fully fit before the South Africa game (June 5) as it is a very important slot," said the member of the two-time World championship profitable crew.
Apart from global's absolute best batsman Virat Kohli, the other recreation changer for India can be Jasprit Bumrah.
"Sachin Tendulkar called him world's best fast bowler at the moment. Indeed he is, for the impact he has created. If you take Bumrah out of that India line-up, it's like you rip a heart out of the body. He is that precious. He is your Virat Kohli of Indian bowling," said Harbhajan.
Harbhajan's 4 semi-finalists are India, Australia, England and New Zealand.
Asked why no West Indies or Pakistan, the veteran off-spinner opined, "I am not saying they can't but New Zealand is a team that does well in big events. Best part of that set up is their boys do the basics well on a consistent basis. That makes a huge difference in a big event," he concluded.
A development displays that Dhoni has been taking the sport deep ahead of going for a final attack however his one-time national and current CSK teammate needs him to return to his big-hitting ways.
World Cup Schedule
"I feel he is at his best when he hits from the onset. Some of his best innings have come when he started the onslaught straightaway. I feel the team management should give him and Hardik Pandya the licence to bat the way they want to. No restrictions, only go for the jugular at No 5," Harbhajan said.
For Harbahajan, top-order batsmen Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul can build the innings, so Dhoni has the freedom to assault.
But what about his issues in the middle overs when spinners like Mitchell Santner or Nathan Lyon will probably be operational?
"That exactly is my point. The Dhoni of the old would hit a six off the second ball off any spinner and those are big sixes. He should and can still do it as I have seen at the CSK nets. Uske chhakkon mein bahot jaan hai (He still hits mighty sixes)," said the member of the victorious 2011 World Cup squad.
Harbhajan needs Dhoni to have the similar intimidating presence that he and Virender Sehwag had some all through their absolute best years of international cricket.
"I can tell you how a bowler's mind works. Suppose I am bowling to Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell in tandem, I would be more worried about KP than Bell. I could bowl a couple of dot balls to KP but he had the ability to take me on. Bell on the other hand would push for singles. Dhoni like KP can intimidate bowlers. He has that effect," said one of India's biggest spinners.
On the crew entrance, Harbhajan said that there is a little bit of fear concerning the number 4 and 6 slots going into the World Cup.
"I don't see anyone except for KL Rahul fitting into that No. 4 slot. So that's a bit of a worry and also No. 6 slot where Kedar Jadhav will play. I hope that Jadhav gets fully fit before the South Africa game (June 5) as it is a very important slot," said the member of the two-time World championship profitable crew.
Apart from global's absolute best batsman Virat Kohli, the other recreation changer for India can be Jasprit Bumrah.
"Sachin Tendulkar called him world's best fast bowler at the moment. Indeed he is, for the impact he has created. If you take Bumrah out of that India line-up, it's like you rip a heart out of the body. He is that precious. He is your Virat Kohli of Indian bowling," said Harbhajan.
Harbhajan's 4 semi-finalists are India, Australia, England and New Zealand.
Asked why no West Indies or Pakistan, the veteran off-spinner opined, "I am not saying they can't but New Zealand is a team that does well in big events. Best part of that set up is their boys do the basics well on a consistent basis. That makes a huge difference in a big event," he concluded.
Team management should give Dhoni freedom to attack: Bhajji
![Team management should give Dhoni freedom to attack: Bhajji]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
May 17, 2019
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