Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni’s on-field tactics against defending champions Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2021 match no. 30 in Dubai was simply remarkable. A Rohit Sharma-less MI began the UAE leg’s opening game in a phenomenal fashion, reducing Chennai to 24/4 inside the Powerplay’s 6 overs. But soon the fortunes turned in CSK’s way with opener Ruturaj Gaikwad firing all cylinders.
Virender Sehwag: MS Dhoni’s Captaincy Was Spot On
After Ruturaj Gaikwad’s unbeaten superb knock (88 not out off 58 balls), which helped Chennai to set a 157-run target, MS Dhoni rotated his bowlers in such a way that MI ultimately succumbed to a 20-run defeat. MS Dhoni & Co earned the valuable 2 points to gain the first position on the points table.
Virender Sehwag lauded veteran MS Dhoni’s presence of mind and the on-field decision that turned the game upside down. The former cricketer said the CSK captain has the sharpest brain among all in the ongoing tournament.
“MS Dhoni’s captaincy was spot on, no doubt about that. He doesn’t plan before the game. He observes the things on the field and takes calls accordingly. He watches the opposition batsmen and deploys a bowling attacks according to that. He anticipates in such a way that if a batter is comfortable against pace, he brings in a spinner and vice-versa,” Sehwag said.
“The best example was when he set the field for Dwayne Bravo. Four fielders were inside the circle to stop singles and generate the possibilities of a wicket. And that’s how they got rid of Ishan Kishan. Indeed, he’s a good captain but, his bowlers bowl according to the field setup. If anybody has the sharpest brain in this league, it’s MS Dhoni,” he added.
CSK recovered from 24 for 4 to post a creditable 156 for 6 mainly due to Ruturaj Gaikwad’s unbeaten 88 and then defended the total by restricting the defending champions to 136 for 8 in 20 overs to grab the top spot on the points table with 6 wins from 8 games.
Virender Sehwag: The Turning Point Ws Bringing In Josh Hazlewood Against Kieron Pollard
Virender Sehwag further spoke about the dismissal of stand-in MI captain Kieron Pollard, calling it the turning point of the game.
“For me the turning point was bringing in Josh Hazlewood against Kieron Pollard. Because he knew, if he gets a spinner to bowl, Pollard won’t spare the bowler. So, I think, the game changed from there,” Sehwag concluded.
The 42-year-old commentator former batsman Virender Sehwag further mentioned the tactical astuteness shown by MS Dhoni when he brought on the pacers against the danger man in form Kieron Pollard who was the stand-in skipper. The burly West Indian has been a thorn in CSK’s side but he was nipped out early when Josh Hazlewood struck him on the pads for an easy LBW.
Kieron Pollard had turned out to be one of the game-changers for the Mumbai Indians as he smacked 87 off 34 balls against the same opponent- Chennai Super Kings in India in the first half of IPL 2021. He hit eight sixes and six fours in the knock and made sure that his team got over the line in a tough chase of 219 runs.
But in the return match, Kieron Pollard could manage only 15 off 14 balls, while MI’s top scorer Saurabh Tiwary’s unbeaten knock of 50 off 40 balls went in vain.