Captain Cool’s Not So Cool Decisions as captain of the Indian Cricket Team
MS Dhoni Captaincy Record – Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the most successful Indian Captain in the world. This man from Ranchi started his cricketing career in 2004. He was first a ticket collector and then became the most successful skipper in the International cricket arena.
MS Dhoni is the only captain in this world to have won all the ICC Trophies. He is still India’s best wicket-keeper batsman. His record as a keeper, captain, and batsman is unbreakable at the moment. Even tough Mahi has not turned up to the field after India’s semi-final exit against New Zealand in world cup 2019 in England, but still, there are no wicket-keeper batsmen who could come close to MS Dhoni’s records in International cricket.
While we praise MS Dhoni for his fantastic career in International Cricket for India, some controversies didn’t allow India to win some vital matches. MS Dhoni’s career as the captain has reached a height. But if some decisions were spot on, then MSD would be the greatest player to ever play cricket for India.
MS Dhoni Captaincy Record
Dhoni took some bold decisions during his captaincy days and not all his decisions were spot on. Dhoni proved that he is human and mistakes can be made by everyone, even on the cricket field while captaining the side.
Mahi trusted many players when they were still struggling. He backed them to do the job. But during pressure situations, those players didn’t turn up and those decisions backfired Dhoni’s plans. The success story of Dhoni is such that we don’t hear Dhoni’s failure stories,
Today we will discuss those controversial times that hurt Dhoni during his captaincy days. Dhoni, who is still known to be the captain cool for India, had some not so calm captaincy days. Here are decisions of Captain Cool which were not So Cool during his captaincy days – MS Dhoni Captaincy Record
The Selection of Piyush Chawla for the 2011 World Cup at Home
India won the world cup after 28 long years in 2011 after 1983. The men in blue beat Sri Lanka in the final and lifted the WC trophy. We all remember Dhoni’s six which he smashed at the long-on region. But, there was a thing which went unnoticed during that joyful journey of India’s triumph.
It was the selection of the leg spinner, Piyush Chawla, in that world cup team. This decision from Dhoni raised many eyebrows. Even tough Chawla added more variety to the Indian bowling line up, he was given a limited opportunity to perform. In those limited chances, Chawla could not show the magic that was expected from him. Due to that, he was dropped from the world cup and is now still searching to find his ways to get into the Indian Side.
MS Dhoni Captaincy Record
Dhoni Persisted with the finger spinners for the World T20 in 2016 at home
His was another tournament which was conducted at home and India were the favourites to win their second World T20 cup. As no host country won the World T20, India was expected to do well in this competition at home. But this decision of Dhoni’s ended another dream of winning the cup. Dhoni’s persistence with the finger spinners, Jadeja and Ashwin didn’t go that well for team India in that tournament. These 2 spinners from India leaked runs, because of the dew factor in the night games which were played on smaller Indian grounds. Dhoni also ignored the good bowling form of KULCHA, who had done well in the IPL that season.
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Ajinkya Rahane in and Kedar Jadhav out despite being in his prime form during 2015 world cup
India was too good in defending their crown during their next world cup journey in 2015. After they won the 2011 world cup at home, there were many expectations from Dhoni and his men to defend the crown in Australia. India started their 2015 world cup campaign on a good note. They defeated teams like South Africa, Pakistan, Ireland, and Bangladesh. But their defeat to Australia in the semi-final ended that dream and their good run in world cup matches also ended.
MS Dhoni Captaincy Record
There were many factors why India lost that match. But the important factor was that Kedar Jadhav was out and Ajinkya Rahane was picked instead of him. When Kedar Jadhav was ignored by Dhoni and the selectors, he was in his prime form and was an ideal middle-order batsman for the world cup 2015. The number 4 spot was a debatable talk during that world cup as well. That spot should have gone to Jadhav instead of Rahane, who was the opening batsmen in 50 over format. In 2017, Kedar was finally selected in India’s ODI team. He played a few good knocks for the team, but it was too late for the Pune guy who should have been picked much earlier in his career. Jadhav could have done more damage with the bat and with the ball in hand.
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The Promotion of Yuvraj Singh in World T20 Final against Sri Lanka in 2014
India had reached their second World T20 final in 2014. It was India vs Sri Lanka again, just like the 50 over world cup of 2011 in India. But things changed here because the Indian innings could not get the momentum which was needed. Sri Lanka was too good in this match. Malinga and his men strangled the Indian batsmen. During this crunch situation, Dhoni decided to promote Yuvraj Singh after the second wicket fell. Dhoni saw that Yuvi was not in a good nick and wasted many deliveries and didn’t got going in his previous matches. But despite that, Dhoni decided to promote his old friend Yuvraj in the final match of the World T20 in Bangladesh. The experienced Yuvi needed to strike some big hits from the ball but he instead played very slowly and that derailed the whole momentum for India. Dhoni had many choices of batsmen who could have batted in place of Yuvi. Batsmen like Raina, Hardik, and Dhoni himself would have been a better choice instead of Yuvraj. That choice made by Dhoni allowed India to lose the final match and their second World T20 title.
MS Dhoni Captaincy Record
Ravindra Jadeja was promoted at number 4 in World T20 against England
India had to win this match to qualify for the next stage. After India lost against West Indies, the men in blue needed to come good against the hosts, England. Instead of promoting himself or Yuvraj at the number 4 spot, Dhoni decided to experiment with Jadeja. This all-rounder was expected to show his batting skills and put pressure right back on England. But this didn’t happen, Jadeja ate lots of deliveries which put more pressure on India. This move from MS Dhoni didn’t work at all. Big hitters like Yuvi and Dhoni too couldn’t help India to get past England’s total. Due to that, India was out from the World T20 competition.
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