Where should Dhoni bat in ODIs?

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  • Dhoni found some success batting at four against New Zealand.

    There is an air of expectancy about India’s limited-overs runs in 2017.

    Part of it has to do with Virat Kohli taking over as skipper across all three formats after the success he has enjoyed in the Test arena.

    The other bit is to do with MS Dhoni relieving himself of the pressures of leadership.

    In the twilight of his career, at 35, this move could just revitalise Dhoni the batsman, making him a powerful asset for the Indian team. There is no denying, however, that he is not going to be your slam-bang finisher once again though.

    Time doesn’t roll back in international cricket.

    “I will never grow my hair again,” said Dhoni in his inimitable style, ahead of the ODI series against England, when asked about recovering his old self.

    “Over the years, I changed my batting position according to the team’s requirements. I am ready to change it again, according to the responsibility given to me in the times ahead,” he added, on a more serious note.

    In this same press conference on Friday, the former captain also talked about how he believed that split captaincy doesn’t work in the Indian set-up. His words reflected on the timing of his decision, along with the simple fact that he didn’t see himself skippering his country in the 2019 ODI World Cup.

    As such, it was the perfect opportunity to hand over the reigns to Kohli, so he could use the Champions Trophy in England this summer as a dress rehearsal.

    However, the new captain has a tough task ahead. The Indian middle-order is in a bit of mess at the moment.

    Kohli has only three ODIs to sort out this muddle before the Champions Trophy rolls around. And one of the toughest calls he will face is deciding where Dhoni will bat.

    After the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, India embarked on a bit of downturn, losing against Bangladesh, South Africa and Australia. Herein, Dhoni’s contributions in lieu of his batting spot need to be pondered over.

    Sample the following.

    From that Bangladesh tour onwards, Dhoni batted at number four in eight matches (313 runs at 39.12 with two half-centuries), at number five in seven matches (251 runs at 41.83 with one half-century), and at number six in six matches (47 runs at 15.66).

    In this period, India only won seven ODIs across four series (not counting the 2016 Zimbabwe tour), and only one of these victories occurred with Dhoni at number six.

    India won three matches each, when he batted at number four or five, but herein other contributions hold a deep impact.

    With Dhoni at number five, India won in Sydney and Dharamsala, but the former was set up by India’s bowlers as New Zealand were bowled out for 190-odd and the latter was set up by Manish Pandey’s maiden hundred.

    At number five, Dhoni’s best effort came at Indore against South Africa, when he scored 92 not out and then put up an immaculate display of leadership to restrict the Proteas in a 248-run chase. That win was down to his sheer will power as captain, more than anything else.

    At number four, he scored 69 against Bangladesh, helping India avoid a 3-0 whitewash. It was also when the first hints of this finisher problem surfaced. He scored 80 and 41 against New Zealand in Mohali and Visakhapatnam, respectively.

    Kohli scored hundreds in both those matches, and yet Dhoni’s impact at number four was amply visible. He provided anchorage at the other end, taking pressure off his partner, and helped guide the innings.

    That Mohali knock was a real gem. At first, Dhoni struggled to get going and then decided to up the ante with some attacking stroke-play. He succeeded.

    Later, he spoke about how he had ‘needed time to even rotate the strike’. It was a sharp admission, similar to the one in Australia earlier, where he lamented the loss of big-hitting prowess.

    “I cannot hit from the word go anymore, I need time to settle down,” he had said, after scoring a paltry 86 runs in five matches Down Under.

    Consequently, for the past year or so, the team management and selectors have actively tried to find a replacement finisher for Dhoni. They failed in Australia, as Gurkeerat Mann and Rishi Dhawan were unable to handle the enormity of the job.

    In Sydney, Pandey showed he could handle it, if given enough time to settle down. His poor run against New Zealand at home was part of this learning curve, despite Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya helping out with cameo knocks. This arrangement needed an investment of time.

    Yet, the selectors went ahead and recalled Yuvraj Singh for the England series, adding to the confusion. As per the first practice game in Mumbai, Yuvraj batted at number four and Dhoni, leading the India A side, slotted himself at number five.

    In a way, it reflected the way ahead. But is this a short or long-term solution keeping in mind both the Champions Trophy and the next World Cup? The selectors failed to specify this aspect.

    Yuvraj has previously struggled in this number four role. That was in 2013, when he was dropped after scoring just one half-century in 11 ODIs, and was rightfully ignored thereafter as India prepared for the 2015 World Cup.

    His inclusion now means that one of Pandey or Jadhav will have to make way, and lose out on vital match experience.

    More importantly, it also indicates that Dhoni’s batting spot in this jumbled Indian order will continue to be flexible, when he should be anchoring the Indian innings at number four instead.

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