JOIN USDhoni unperturbed as failed experiment costs India dear
Dhoni, who carried out a few different experiments in Monday night’s match at Lord’s, said he kept Ishant Sharma for the middle overs, a move which paid dividends, but the idea of the pacer bowling a new length at the death did not really click.
“Instead of yorkers, we wanted to bowl back of the length deliveries in the final three overs. Unfortunately it didn’t work,” Dhoni told reporters after losing the match by nine runs.
“We have seen other teams do it regularly, so we wanted to use this opportunity of warm-up game to try it out. Unfortunately, it didn’t work today. If we have to go to the basics of bowling yorkers, we would do so,” he said.
India conceded nearly 40 runs in the final three overs and compounded the problem by scoring just 24 runs off the final four overs of their chase.
“It’s just not about doing well in the first few overs or in the end. It’s critical that teams don’t lose too many wickets between six and 10 overs.
“That’s why somebody like Ishant can be critical in the middle overs. He could dry up the runs and batsmen could lose wickets in trying to go after him,” Dhoni said.
However, Dhoni’s idea of promoting Rohit Sharma as an opener in place of Virender Sehwag, who is carrying a shoulder injury, was extremely successful.
The Indians suffered their fourth successive defeat at the hands of New Zealand and their skipper Daniel Vettori, with figures of three for 23, once again played a critical hand.
“Four defeats in four matches is a bit of concern,” conceded the Indian captain, adding, “However, in one of the overs, he was also hit for 20 runs by Raina. So it’s not as if he can’t be attacked or 40-50 runs can’t be taken off his bowling.”
Dhoni pointed out that the boundary on one side of the ground was shorter, though he felt it’s going to be the trend in Twenty20 games.
“One side is always shorter and teams try to take advantage of it. If it’s managed well, even a score of 80 from the final eight overs is possible.
“However, once the asking rate goes beyond nine and a half, it becomes difficult,” he said.
The 28-year-old captain felt spinners would call the shots in the World Twenty20 Championships.
“Most of the sides have quality spinners in their ranks as they understand slow bowlers have a huge role to play. Spinners, I am sure, will have a bigger impact in this tournament,” he said.