On Tuesday, India defeated Bangladesh by a nail-biting yet cushioning margin of 28 runs. India Batting first set up a mediocre target of 314 on a used pitch of Birmingham. Batting first was always going to be easy for any team on this pitch with leg-side boundaries being mere 59 metres. Rahul and Rohit got off to a flyer and scored 69 in first 10 overs with Rohit Sharma being dropped on 9 by the all experienced Tamim Iqbal. By the 30th over India were cruising at a run rate of 6 runs per over and were 180 for the loss of 1 wicket. With a team setup like that, expectations of a score of 350 and above were much on the table but unfortunately, KL Rahul fell in 32nd over and Kohli succumbed on a mere score of 26 and soon Pandya followed him. India was slowed down and they managed 250–4 in 40 overs.
With Dhoni and Pant in the last 10 overs, a score of 330 and above looked possible. But infamous for the match against England, Dhoni played in a similar fashion with a few flashy shots on the trot. The Indian fans were enraged when Dhoni decided to not run in the last over and failed to hit one out of the park and the ball landed in the hands of Shakib Al Hasan. With Bhuvaneswar Kumar on the other end completely capable enough of hitting was denied strike as dhoni felt he could finish big. India then ended at a mere score of 314 for the fall of 9 wickets. Not doubting the veterans capabilities, but Dhoni had failed to finish in the recent past and now seems like a better option for number 4.
With Dhoni on number 4 Team India gets the perfect cushion of a responsible batsman and also Dhoni himself gets that cushion of facing balls and getting an eye in. Top Contenders like Australia, New Zealand, England(maybe) have good number 4’s like Steven Smith, Ross Taylor, Eoin Morgan. With Dhoni being in that spot India looks like a force to reckon with and also then, there is enough firepower toward then end as people like Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik can play their natural game and finish on a high.
The statement of Dhoni being out of the team doesnt seem right and will never seem right. The Keeping maestro has always been the backbone of the Indian team and has always been a crucial part of the decision making on the field. Personally speaking, I don't want Dhoni out and never will, I want him to play for India but as a specialist number 4. He should be treated as a specialist senior batsman and not as a wicketkeeper. It's time Rishabh Pant picks up the gloves and start to fly around. The young lad will have an amazing experience and to be honest, A dhoni at mid-on is much more dangerous. He specialises in reading the game and what better position than to be beside a bowler and advice him.
The final statement being Dhoni should play at 4 and India should have him fielding rather than keeping.
