MS Dhoni is known for his unorthodox batting and unique field settings. MSD usually has a trick or two up his sleeve to not only save his wicket, but also take the team over the victory line. On February 8, the street-smart cricketer showed us another example of his presence of mind in the second T20I against New Zealand.
Dhoni likes coming down the wicket to spinners negating the spin and playing his shots. At times if the 37-year-old does not feel he can hit the ball for a boundary, he resorts to defending it. But against Ish Sodhi, he went a little further than that. Realising that Sodhi had bowled short and hitting the ball down the ground won’t be an option, he did something special.
The wicketkeeper-batsman took off the bottom end and guided the ball to point fielder for a single. Had he gone with the flow and committed to the attacking shot, the ball would have spun away and New Zealand wicketkeeper Tim Seifert would have completed an easy stumping.
Presence of mind #indiavsnewzealand #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/bNauXLKENj
— Lachu (@Msdlachu) February 8, 2019
He scored 20 runs off 17 deliveries guiding India to a comprehensible win with 7 balls to spare in the second T20I ensuring there was no anti-climax to the game. He also captained for a few hours when skipper Rohit Sharma had to go off the field to get his injured finger treated.
Dhoni has been a fan-favourite during India’s tour of New Zealand, especially after gaining the form with the bat. The cricketer-turned-commentator Mark Richardson made a huge statement as he heard a loud cheer from the crowd as Dhoni came out to bat:
“I have been broadcasting games in New Zealand for almost 15 years now. I have not seen any player getting a reception as grand as the one MS Dhoni got tonight.”
I have been broadcasting games in New Zealand for almost 15 years now.
I have not seen any player getting a reception as grand as the one MS DHONI got tonight.
– Mark Richardson (Former NZ player)
@msdhoni forever best pic.twitter.com/PHHnv0Xoan— Neha Jha(nj.) (@happiness_msd7) February 8, 2019
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