Sachin Tendulkar wants MS Dhoni to bat at No5 for India in the 2019 World Cup

Sudhir Gupta 09:35 23/05/2019
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  • India veteran wicketkeeper batsman MS Dhoni.

    India legend Sachin Tendulkar believes veteran wicketkeeper MS Dhoni should bat at No5 for the team during the upcoming 2019 ICC World Cup in England.

    Deputy India skipper Rohit Sharma had earlier suggested that Dhoni should bat as high up as number four in the batting order following his IPL displays for Chennai Super Kings but Tendulkar believes that the 37-year-old should remain at No5.

    “My personal opinion is Dhoni should be batting five,” Tendulkar told ESPNcricinfo in an interview.

    “I still don’t know what the team combination would be, but if you are going Rohit and Shikhar (Dhawan) as openers, to Virat (Kohli) at No. 3 and whoever at No. 4 then Dhoni could be No. 5.

    “Then Hardik Pandya, an explosive player, follows them. That way the experienced batsmen are well spaced out and Dhoni can stretch the game towards the end where he himself can be explosive along with Hardik.”

    The former India star batsman watched Pandya at close quarters during Mumbai Indians’ march to the IPL 2019 title and feels that the all-rounder will be key for India in the World Cup.

    Tendulkar is backing Pandya to have a big World Cup.

    Tendulkar is backing Pandya to have a big World Cup.

    “Looking at the way how Hardik has played in the IPL, he is connecting the ball really well. He hasn’t slogged, to be honest,” Tendulkar said.

    “He has played proper cricketing shots, which is an advantage because that is how one would get more consistent. That is going to work in his favour.

    “This is going to be a big tournament for him. I am hoping that we, as a team, move forward and go all the way till the end and give a reason for the whole nations to smile and celebrate.”

    When asked to pick his four semi-finalists for the World Cup, Tendulkar replied, “India, England, Australia should be in the semis.

    “The fourth could be one of New Zealand or Pakistan.”

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