Analyzing Dhoni's batting woes: Is it waning of hitting skills or just a lack of confidence?

Dhoni is insanely quick behind the stumps

Physically capable, but mentally?

Dhoni’s last ODI innings against Australia would have made every Dhoni fan cry. Though that was the only game that India won, we saw how Dhoni was struggling to connect the ball under pressure. He knew very well that he was the last of the recognized batsmen, and he never seemed comfortable under that pressure.

But that does not give you the full picture. Dhoni has played some quick cameos in the series, including a 9 ball 23, which shows he can still clear those big boundaries with ease. But that’s not happening very often now. Why?

When a batsman ages, he deals with problems related to fitness, reflexes, bat-speed and eyesight. Now look at Dhoni. There is absolutely no case of a fitness issue with him.

He is playing the pull shots with full control, and his stumpings are insanely quick and impeccable. This is a clear indication that his reflexes and eyesight are still up to the mark.

Now bat-speed is something related to arm strength, and for someone who saw Dhoni’s bat-swing while smashing the James Faulkner delivery which went like a bullet over the bowler’s head to the boundary, will not be having any doubt about his arm strength.

Then why is Dhoni out of form, at least with the bat? Hitting skill is correlated with confidence, and it seems the cascading series losses and a belief that he is a better number 4 batsman than a number 6 batsman, has put a question mark in Dhoni’s mind.

The old Dhoni who was an epitome of self-confidence under pressure is no more. And this lack of confidence is the main reason why Dhoni is now staggering under pressure.

What Dhoni has to do?

Just believe. He has to believe that he is the one who is going to win India the next World Cup. He has to believe that he is the one who is going to finish matches for India. Yes, we need a young finisher to fill Dhoni’s shoes, but right now it’s in Dhoni that the nation has put their faith in.

Now that Dhoni has got more depth in the batting with the inclusion of Yuvraj Singh and Hardik Pandya, he has shown intentions to start hitting from the very first ball. That’s a very good sign, as a confident looking MSD can always create a feeling of terror in the opposition’s mind.

With 2 consecutive series wins, India is now back on the winning track. Bowlers seem to be in good rhythm, and this would have given him much confidence heading into the T20 World Cup. Let’s hope that rewrites the history books by becoming the first captain to win the T20 World Cup twice.