MS Dhoni's tactics during India vs England match in ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 were widely scrutinised on Twitter.
MS Dhoni again came under fire after India were handed their first defeat in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 by England. India lost to England by 31 runs on Sunday at Edgbaston.
Dhoni, who has come under scrutiny for his slow tempo in India's matches, again became the talk of the town as the wicket-keeper batsman was seen playing in his own pace.
Chasing 338, India's opening batsman Rohit Sharma registered his third century in the ongoing tournament. Indian skipper Virat Kohli also registered a half-century, becoming the first skipper to register five consecutive fifties in the World Cup. India needed 71 runs from the final five overs to maintain their unbeaten run in the tournament with former captain Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav in the middle. The duo, however, looked content knocking the ball around rather than going for big hits and managed only 39 in the last five overs.
The batsman managed to score 42 runs from 31 balls, but he was clearly seen not looking for boundaries in the final overs. This approach by the former captain is being widely scrutinised on Twitter. However, there were other fans who took to Twitter to defend MS Dhoni.
DNA's full coverage:
Why did MS Dhoni-Kedar Jadhav play like that? Rohit Sharma explains reason behind slow batting
ENG vs IND World Cup 2019: Virat Kohli lists reasons for India's loss against England
1. Why blame MS Dhoni only, ask fans
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Many fans highlighted that fact that India had scored only 28 runs in the first ten overs. They also pointed out that despite being called a slow innings, MS Dhoni actually had the second best strike rate among all the Indian batsmen.
Ready set go.. Let's blame Dhoni let's blame Dhoni pic.twitter.com/5L9CGMhvwI
— saipurushothamreddy (@saipurushotham8) June 30, 2019
Why we all are praising pandya and criticizing dhoni????#MSDhoni #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/gkPl5VwqX5
— Thulasi Ragavan (@GIj9b0lJOahyMK9) July 1, 2019
I know 104 needed in last 10 over, and According to So called cricket intellectuals, experts like uh blame #Dhoni for this because was the only player who was playing today against england. Cmon grow up buddy pic.twitter.com/25O77MrrmA
— Natin Singh (@officialnatin7) June 30, 2019
See this idiots who blame dhoni pic.twitter.com/pX09NFJO89
— Mayank singh (@Mayank79914286) June 30, 2019
VVS Laxman puts it brilliantly. With the poor batting in 1st 10 overs, India is in constantly "chasing mode". The middle and lower order had no time to even think.
— batmansanghi (@batmansanghi) June 30, 2019
Blame is on KL Rahul and Rohit sharma. Not on Dhoni or Jadav#indiavsEngland #INDvENG
2. Did Dhoni have a plan?
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There were many who argued that that MS Dhoni batted with a plan in a lost cause. According to these fans, Dhoni ensured that India did not lose by too many runs and thus maintain a good net run rate.
Team Indian played safe last 4 overs to keep the NRR good. There is no use trying to score and get out and not play 50 overs. Which would have a serious impact on NET RUN RATE. stop ranting about MSD, this is a team strategy and not Daabang 3.#Dhoni#IndvsEng
— 4Zero2Nine (@4zero2nine) June 30, 2019
In the event of a team being all out in less than its full quota of overs, the calculation of its net run rate shall be based on the full quota of overs and not on the number of overs in which the team was dismissed. That explains #IndiavsEngland #Dhoni
— Chef Meghna (@MeghnaFoodMagic) July 1, 2019
Odd from India (Dhoni) at the end today today. Charitably I'll assume they thought they couldn't win and decided to protect their net run rate in the last 9 overs. They are through now, if they'd hit out and got all out, NRR might've dropped below NZ...maybe. #CWC19 #ENGvIND
— Leon Lewis (@lgblewis) June 30, 2019
3. Team India defends Dhoni
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Rohit Sharma, who topscored for India with 102, blamed the pitch for Dhoni-Jadhav crawl. "When Mahi and Kedar were batting, they were trying to hit (boundaries) but were not able to because of the slowness of the pitch," he said. "Towards the end it got pretty slow. We got to give credit to the English team, they used the conditions very well. "They mixed up their variations quite nicely and kept us guessing all through the game."
India captain Virat Kohli also defended MS Dhoni. "I think MS was trying really hard to get the boundary," Kohli, whose fifth half-century in a row went in vain, said at the presentation ceremony. "They were just bowling good areas. We'll have to sit down and assess and improve in the next game." (Image: AFP)
4. Dhoni comes under fire
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MS Dhoni's tactics were widely scrutinised on Twitter. "If there was any team that had the ability to stop India's winning run, it was England. Dhoni's approach in the last few overs, however, was baffling," former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar tweeted.
"Dhoni fans after watching no intent from him to win the match #INDvENG," one Twitter user wrote. "Dhoni please come back to Test cricket and retire from ODI, We badly need you in Test #INDvENG," another Twitter user wrote.
"Nasir Hussain: "I don't understand what Dhoni is doing? At least give it a go! Now the fans are leaving, Sourav Ganguly: "I have no explanation for this" #Dhoni," another fan tweeted. (Image: Reuters)
