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ToggleTeam India senior campaigner MS Dhoni’s ‘timid’ approach with the bat on Sunday (February 24) has infuriated Twitterati. In the opener of the two-match India vs Australia 2019 Twenty20 International (T20I) opener, Dhoni could manage 37-ball 29 with the help of a solitary boundary against the Aussie in Vizag T20I.
The 37-year-old Dhoni, who’s past his prime, however, has often made a resounding comeback to win hearts. But at home, he seemed to be too rusty with the willow for the Men in Blue.
Recently, Dhoni has received a bit of bashing for his go-slow approach. Also, his strike-rate in the T20I cricket has been a cause of concern while facing the minimum of 35 balls.
Also, one of the Twitter users has suggested the Ranchi-born star to announce his retirement from the T20 cricket.
On the other side, on a sluggish surface, Australia opted to bowl first. Batting first, India batsmen struggled to score runs at the pace as wickets kept on tumbling.
Except a brilliant fifty from KL Rahul on his return, none other among Men in Blue batsmen could leave an impact during the opener of the limited-overs series.
Of late, Rahul struggled to score runs. He slammed 36-ball fifty with the help of six fours and a six.
Dhoni had saved one end, as India lost wickets in a jiffy. With the wealth of experience on his back, Dhoni couldn’t take India to a comfortable total.
In 20 allotted overs, India managed to score 126 for seven before losing out the last-ball thriller by three wickets in Visakhapatnam.
In the recent past, Dhoni has taken his team out of precarious situations. Dhoni’s who often than not have excelled in the pressure situation, now found himself in a tangle following a dip in his hard-hitting prowess.
Apart from Dhoni being hammered, the surface wasn’t that easy to bat on. He knitted crucial 26 runs with tail-enders in the last 30 deliveries.
Has Dhoni lost the Midas touch?
Well, the critics believe Dhoni has not enough in his tank. Meanwhile, Dhoni is an obvious choice for team management in the upcoming 2019 World Cup.
Earlier, Dhoni on Australia tour has answered his critics following his 96-ball 51-run knock in Sydney. He then went on to smash three consecutive fifties to balance the debate on certain quarters. Dhoni’s finishing prowess has still been a hot debate, and again he has enough in his tank to change the complexion of the game.
With India trailing the series 1-0, MSD has a significant chance to respond to the criticism while making his bat talk and this time in Bengaluru on February 27.
Here’s how Twitterati reacted following slow innings from MS Dhoni in Vizag T20I:
@msdhoni please retire from t20s atleast .
— Ashu// (@imcricfreak) February 25, 2019
MS Dhoni's strike rate of 78.37 is the second-lowest by an India batsman in a T20I innings of 35+ balls https://t.co/c04Gk6L3Kp#IndvAus
— ESPNcricinfo stats (@ESPNcric_stats) February 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/anonymousguy194/status/1099836529986420737
https://twitter.com/style_wick/status/1099750682091900928
#INDvsAUS #WhistlePodu #CSK #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/5O3ZgXxbn5
— Witty Doc (@humourdoctor) February 25, 2019
On the other hand, #MSDhoni had dissapointed me today with his managerial skills albeit having much expertise .Had he got one boundry for us , we would have easily won the match .Still no jousting, we will do better in next match .
— CineHub (@Its_CineHub) February 24, 2019
On the risk of being trolled. I have another suggestion…
Dhoni should start playing #Dream11 because he is one of finest brain in world cricket today and Dream11 is about 'Khelo cricket, dimag se…'#MSDhoni #INDvAUS #IndvAus #AUSvIND
— V!kranta (@VikrantaYadav) February 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/rickypatel26/status/1099731742716514305
https://twitter.com/Bebithraja/status/1099728573550579712