NEW DELHI – India team bosses on Monday defended M.S. Dhoni after thewicketkeeper-batsman came under fire for slow batting towards the end ofhis side’s World Cup defeat to England.
Chasing a stiff target 338 to win, previously unbeaten India needed 71 runsfrom the last five overs of Sunday’s match at Edgbaston, with veteranbig-hitter Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav at the crease.
But the pair added just 39, scrambling singles but failing to find theboundary regularly, to finish on 306-5. Dhoni was unbeaten on 42 off 31deliveries while Jadhav was 12 not out off 13 balls.
The two batsmen were criticised in the Indian press and on social media,with pundits labelling their approach as “baffling”.
But assistant coach Sanjay Bangar said the criticism levelled at the formercaptain surprised him, adding that 37-year-old Dhoni was “doing the job forthe team”.
“Except for one odd innings, he has done the role always. Five out of sevengames he has done the job for the team,” said Bangar.
“If you see the earlier games, against South Africa he stitched together apartnership of 70 (the partnership was 74) with Rohit (Sharma). After that,what was required of him against Australia he did that.
“In Manchester on a difficult track (against West Indies) he got a vitalfifty for us. Here also he was striking the ball really well. I’m surprisedthat this question continues to come up every now and then.”
A powerful middle-order batsman who led India to World Cup glory atMumbai’s Wankhede Stadium in 2011, Dhoni’s finishing prowess has recentlybeen questioned.
Earlier in the current tournament he faced flak for his slow knock againstAfghanistan, when he scored just 28 off 52 deliveries.
Bangar said England’s excellent bowling was the reason for India’sstruggles in Birmingham, rather than Dhoni’s alleged lack of intent.
“If you look at the way they bowled towards the end, they used thedimensions really well and created difficult angles for our batters tohit,” said Bangar.
“In those large boundaries and with the type of balls they were bowling –slower bouncers, a lot of into-the-wicket deliveries, slower balls, I justfelt maybe last one or two overs, the difference between runs required andballs left were a bit too much.”
Rising star Rishabh Pant impressed with his cameo at number four and Bangarsaid the young batsman would keep his place in the side for Tuesday’s matchagainst Bangladesh, also at Edgbaston.
The 21-year-old Pant, who joined the team in the middle of the tournamentafter an injury to opener Shikhar Dhawan, made 32 off 29 balls.
India need one win from their remaining two matches to guarantee a place inthe World Cup semi-finals.