Updated: October 20, 2020 6:55:46 pm
MS Dhoni, captain of Chennai Super Kings during the 2020 IPL cricket match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Saturday 10th October 2020 (PTI / Sportzpics to BCCI)
MS Dhoni looks like a pale shadow of his past as a hitter in this Indian Premier League (IPL). So far the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) The captain has scored 164 runs in 10 games. Arguably the best finalist in the history of cue ball cricket is struggling to finish the games.
Is Dhoni’s striking prowess diminishing?
The statistics suggest it. His career strike index in T20s, 135.54, is well above his strike index in this edition of the IPL, 125.19. At 326 T20, it has reached a whopping 301 sixes.
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In 190 IPL matches between 2008 and 2019, Dhoni had reached 209 sixes, which means 1.1 sixes per game on average. The 2018 season was the brightest, with six hits – a top 30 in 16 games. Last year, he had hit 23 sixes in 15 games. Compared to that, in 10 IPL games this period, he has reached just six sixes. His average of six hits this span has dropped 0.6 per game.
But with age, Dhoni has remodeled his hitting, hasn’t he?
True. For the past three to four years, Dhoni has played the role of a grafter to build his innings before raising the stakes at the end of innings. His 56 out against the West Indies at the 50-year-old World Cup last year was a good example. From 140/4, when India was under pressure, it anchored the innings at 268/7, staying there until the end. Hardik Pandya played the aggressor role, but Dhoni still ended up with a strike rate of over 91, very creditable by ODI standards. Prior to that, in early 2019, their 55 knockouts and 87 knockouts in two ODIs against Australia in Adelaide and Melbourne respectively had guided India home. In the current IPL, Dhoni has been undefeated twice; a 47 of 36 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad and a 29 of 17 balls in a losing chase in the first leg against Rajasthan Royals (RR). In the first match of the tournament against the Mumbai Indians, he barely had a chance to hit (0 *, 2 balls) 📣 Click to follow Express Explained on Telegram
Why is Dhoni struggling to get his mojo back?
Dhoni went into this IPL completely undercooked. The World Cup semi-final against New Zealand at Old Trafford on July 10, 2019 was their last competitive encounter. A Covid-induced lockdown forced a lengthy layoff for all cricketers. But in the case of Dhoni, the pause was even longer. Furthermore, at 39, he is in the twilight of his career.
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According to former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad, the lack of playing time has affected Dhoni’s match fitness. “Dhoni has reached this IPL after a long period of decline. He had no playing time for this IPL. And this is where the problem lies. It is not easy to get in shape and get into the rhythm after such a long rest period. For a player Dhoni’s age, it becomes even more difficult. Dhoni needs to be fit enough, ”the Pakistani hitting legend told The Indian Express.
How does lack of playing time affect Dhoni’s hitting?
He is not hitting the mark at the time. His reflexes are apparently slower. “I’ve seen (MS) Dhoni hitting in this IPL. For me, the problem areas are your timing and reflexes. If a player is not fully fit, his pace and reflexes slow down, ”explained Miandad. Furthermore, according to him, Dhoni’s “body positions were not suitable” for certain shots.
So how is AB de Villiers, at 36, doing with a 190 strike rate in this tournament?
De Villiers is also on the wrong side of the 30s and retired from international cricket. But he is winning matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore. The difference is that despite his international retirement, de Villiers is still a regular in different T20 leagues like Big Bash, etc. Also, as a hitter, de Villiers has a wider range than Dhoni. It allows De Villiers greater freedom to place the ball through the gaps. “Hitting the limits and sixes is about timing the ball well and your ability to pick holes. As a hitter, you have to have the range to place the ball perfectly, ”Miandad said.
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Is Dhoni struggling to time the ball?
During the second leg between CSK and RR, mid-pace runner Kartik Tyagi took a full shot at Dhoni. The latter had already played 25 balls and was well placed. He tried an effort but missed and the ball went limp. Dhoni in his prime would have sent him 20 rows back long.
Can you get back to your best level?
At 39, he will have to turn back the years to do that. Miandad, however, hoped that Dhoni would improve when he was fitter. “My suggestion to him will be to increase his drills and batting time at the nets. If you are doing 20 sit-ups (for example), you can increase it to 30. If you are doing five sprints, you can increase it to eight. If you spend an hour on the nets for batting practice, you can increase it to two hours. You don’t have to do it in one go. You can do it in parts. You can do it in three sessions: morning, afternoon and evening. Dhoni knows it and maybe he is already doing it, ”he said.
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