5 highly criticised on-field MS Dhoni decisions

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 26:  MS Dhoni of India leaves the ground after being run out by Glenn Maxwell of Australia during the 2015 Cricket World Cup Semi Final match between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on March 26, 2015 in Sydney, Australia.  (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Dhoni has had superb success as a captain but there have been instances when he has been criticised

Indian skipper MS Dhoni is known for his love for playing the odds. The way he gambles on-field is unlike any other skipper and his ability to take chances in such crucial situations sets him apart from the rest.

It began with the 2007 World T20 when Dhoni gave the last over to Joginder Sharma instead of an experienced player like Harbhajan Singh.

Dhoni, who prefers to go by his instincts more than logic, gave Joginder the opportunity to seal the match in favour of India, and he did it by ensuring an India win by 5 runs. If India would have failed that day, Dhoni’s instinctive decision making would have been under a lot of criticism.

He did it again in the 2011 World Cup finals when he promoted himself up the order, ahead of the in-form Yuvraj, even though he was having a poor form with the bat. This gamble was equally successful as the previous one and India lifted the World Cup after 28 years.

Unfortunately, all his left of field decision making didn’t go this well. Here are some of his on-field decisions that were criticised for:


#1 World Cup 2011 game against South Africa

Robin Peterson
Robin Peterson scored 18 off 15 to win the game for South Africa

Indian fans were glued to the screen as South Africa needed thirteen off the last over to win the match against India.

Indian fans held their breath as the left-arm medium pacer, Ashish Nehra was given the chance to bowl the 50th over at the VCA Stadium instead of Harbhajan Singh, but Indian fans and pundits had faith in Dhoni’s instincts, which are often right.

Well, things didn’t go that smooth. Robin Peterson hit two fours and a six made South Africa win the nail-biting match.

Indian fans were fuming and were in no mood to forgive the Men in Blue. They took over the internet to show their anger while some took to humour to rip apart Nehra.

#2 T20 World Cup 2014 final vs Sri Lanka

Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh was squarely blamed for the 2014 T20 World Cup final

The World Cup T20 final of 2014 was a nightmare for the Indian fans.

The hero who had given Indian cricket and its fans numerous occasions to feel elated and proud for over a decade, Yuvraj Singh, became the reason for the loss of the final against Sri Lanka.

All of a sudden, the hero became the traitor. His, 11 off 21 sucked all the momentum that India had built, thanks to a steady innings from Virat Kohli. The match which seemed to be too easy to win was lost. After the disastrous defeat, the Indian skipper was questioned and blamed for his decision of making Yuvraj Singh, a player who was not in form, a part of the XI.

Dhoni went on to defend the left-hander by telling the media, “No one will as disappointed as Yuvraj himself.”

#3 Commonwealth Bank series in Australia 2011-12

Dhoni
Dhoni was criticised not only by fans but also his teammates

‘Captain Cool’ has a habit of taking matches to the last over and win it for the team. Teammates and pundits have criticised the Indian skipper when he failed to do so.

During the Commonwealth series in Australia, India was chasing 237 runs and it didn’t seem impossible with Gautam Gambhir’s brilliant 91, but Dhoni dragged it till the very end and faltered in winning the match.

Gambhir criticised and blamed Dhoni and said that he would have wrapped the game up in the 45th over if he would have stayed till the end. He also blamed Dhoni for his run out.

#4 T20 match against England in 2014

MS Dhoni Rayudu
Dhoni’s selfishness probably caused India’s loss

India needed seventeen to win from the final over, and Dhoni was in the middle alongside Rayudu.

Dhoni, confident on his own ability to finish off games, faced each and every ball in the last over rather than letting Ambati Rayudu to have a swing or two. It again cost India a match which they should have won.

With the last two balls to spare in the the match against England, India needed five runs. Dhoni hit the ball to the deep square leg and instead of taking a single and giving the strike to Rayadu, he decided to face the ball himself but failed to seal the game for India, and only managed a single of the last ball delivered.

#5 First Test against England at Lord’s, 2011 series

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 22:  Mahendra Singh Dhoni (R) of India bowls the ball as Kevin Pietersen (L) of England looks on during day two of the 1st npower Test Match between England and India at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 22, 2011 in London, England.  (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Dhoni bringing himself on to bowl brought him criticism from all corners

Dhoni’s unusual captaincy attracted a lot of criticism and was questioned again when veteran Zaheer Khan couldn’t play because of injury on Day 1 of the first Test against England at Lord’s, 2011.

Dhoni decided to bowl himself on the second day, which was quite not expected. Former Indian skipper Kapil Dev said, “Dhoni has made a mockery of Test cricket by bowling (himself). This is not acceptable that on the second day of the Test match, you can't do this.”

Dhoni bowled eight overs but failed to make an impression. The result was India losing the match by a huge margin of 196 runs.

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Edited by Staff Editor