Dhoni was out when India still needed 71 to win on Thursday. He scored a 65-ball 39 at a strike rate of 60, far less than his career figure of 89.08. And, this has caused many to question his form and his role as a finisher.
Having failed to see India cross the finish line in the second ODI against New Zealand at the Kotla in New Delhi on Thursday night, questions are being asked if Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the finisher is finished.
It may not be wise to blame one player for India's defeat that allowed the Kiwis to draw level in the five-match series with three more to go.
Dhoni was out when India still needed 71 to win on Thursday. He scored a 65-ball 39 at a strike rate of 60, far less than his career figure of 89.08. And, this has caused many to question his form and his role as a finisher.
Dhoni has often said that he wants to bat higher up the order and leave the job of the finisher to others like Hardik Pandya for this series. In fact, the 35-year-old limited-overs captain has been batting at No. 4 or 5 for a majority of the matches post 2015 ICC World Cup.
Dhoni had Suresh Raina follow him at No. 6 and play the role of a finisher for most of last year. However, the Uttar Pradesh left-hander was left out for Australia tour early this year and then a bout of viral in the ongoing series.
In the last 15 innings that Dhoni has played since the 2015 World Cup, Dhoni has batted at No. 4 on five occasions, at No. 5 seven times including the first two ODIs against Kiwis, and at No. 6 thrice.
How higher does Dhoni want to bat? Should he bat at No. 4, he has to push Manish Pandey to No. 5. Or further up to No. 3 will mean Virat Kohli batting at No. 4. Or, does Dhoni want to open the batting with Rohit Sharma or Ajinkya Rahane?
Should Dhoni open the innings, which he is at liberty to do so in this Indian team that is all for flexibility for the sake of Team India, it would give him the chance to bat freely and he has full 50 overs in front of him.
Just that the role will be unfamiliar to him, though not totally new. He has opened with Virender Sehwag in two ODIs, once in Dambulla against Sri Lanka in 2005 scoring two and again in Gwalior against England the next year, scoring 96, though both were in losing causes.
The opener's role for Dhoni is highly unlikely as Rohit Sharma is best suited for the role and chief coach Anil Kumble has reiterated that Rahane will open the batting this series, what with Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul not featuring in the series due to injuries.
Dhoni is at liberty to choose his batting position. Nobody is to stop him from doing so. He is the captain, he is the senior-most player in the team, he is a two-time World Cup-winning captain.
One fails to understand when he says repeatedly "I always wanted to bat up. I wanted to play a few more strokes." The latest occasion being on Thursday night after India's six-run loss.
Dhoni's explanation was: "It is not easy when you are batting and people keep losing wickets at the other end. You get some kind of partnership going and you want to play a few big shots. Then at that point of time, you lose a wicket. Again you want to build a partnership."
How higher do you want to bat, MS?
Dhoni post 2015 World Cup:
Batting position Innings Runs Hs Ave SR
4 5 181 69 36.2 79.04
5 7 251 92* 41.83 94.36
6 3 47 27 15.67 94.00
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "MS Dhoni")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}