MS Dhoni’s strike-rate once again came under the scanner during 1st T20I of the series against Australia in Vizag as the former Indian skipper took 37 balls to score 29 runs. What further left the fans confused was the occasions in last overs when Dhoni denied running between the wickets to avoid giving the strike to Yuzvendra Chahal.
He denied almost 8 runs during the time when he was batting with the tailenders. Those runs could have made a difference as India only lost the match on the final ball.
While the fans are criticising Dhoni for his denial to take runs, Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has defended Dhoni and has said that it was right of him to farm the strike.
“It [farming the strike] was probably fair enough with the way the wicket was – being difficult to score for any batter, let alone a guy who is not known for his power-hitting in Chahal. MS is obviously a world-class finisher and even he was finding it hard to hit the middle of the bat,” he said after the end of the match.
“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’s the sign – he hit one six and they only got seven of the over. Shows you how difficult it is. If you hold MS to one boundary in the last few overs, it’s a pretty big effort,” Maxwell added.
The all-rounder played a big part in Australia’s win over India as he made the difference for the Aussies, scoring 56 off 43, that included six fours and two sixes.
During the time when Maxwell on the crease, Australia were looking comfortable but once he was dismissed, Australians struggled and Indian made a comeback in the game.
Till the final over, the hosts were ahead in the game as Australia needed 14 runs in the final over with no established batsman out there.
Jhye Richardson and Pat Cummins, however, scored the required runs and carried the team past the winning total on the final ball to clinch a victory.
Apart from Maxwell, D’Arcy Short too had a crucial role as he scored 37 off 37. He was run out in the 16th ver that really changed the course of the game but in the end, India could not do the finishing job.
With an aim to level the series, Men in Blue will host visitors in the second T20I of the series on February 27 in Bengaluru, the original venue for the 1st T20I.