Legends say sending Dhoni at number seven was ‘tactical blunder’

Previous skipper Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman said India submitted a “strategic goof” by downgrading Mahendra Singh Dhoni to number seven in the World Cup elimination round against New Zealand, a move that left them perplexed.

Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik were sent in front of Dhoni after India were decreased to five for three and after that 24 for four. In the long run, it turned into an assignment too intense to even think about completing, as India missed the mark by 18 runs.

“Dhoni ought to have come in front of Pandya. It was a strategic screw up. Dhoni ought to have strolled in front of Dinesh Karthik. Stage was set for Dhoni. In 2011 last likewise, he elevated himself fixing to make something happen at number four in front of Yuvraj Singh and won the World Cup,” mourned Laxman.

Ganguly said it’s about Mahindra Singh Dhoni‘s batting as well as his quieting impact on the youthful batsmen at the opposite end. Gasp was set yet lost his wicket when he assaulted spinner Mitchell Santener, the expulsion inciting captain Virat Kohli to have an energized visit with mentor Ravi Shatsri.

“India required involvement with that organize. On the off chance that Dhoni was there when Pant was batting, he would not have enabled Pant to play that shot against the breeze. In England, it’s a major factor. He would have instructed him to follow pacer, when mid-off and mid-on is up, in light of the fact that he is great at that.

“Dhoni ought to have batted up. You need that self-restraint and not simply his batting. He would not have enabled wickets to fall in bunch. Dhoni was there when Jadeja batted. Correspondence is quality. You can’t have Dhoni at number seven,” Ganguly told authority telecaster Star Sports.”

Asia Cup 2018: Rashid, Shahzad help Afghanistan stun India with a tie

More than the result, Afghanistan’s performance was reiteration that they are ready to take on any team in shorter formats of the game

                             Afghanistan cricket Team. Photo: @ICC

Afghanistan’s unheralded bunch made the biggest impact in their nascent international careers by pulling off a thrilling tie which in fact was a moral victory against India in one of the most memorable encounters in the history of Asia Cup.

Twenty20 cricket’s global superstar Rashid Khan showed a big heart as he defended only seven runs that a second string India required in order to chase down a target of 253 in the final Super Four encounter on Wednesday.

With the dangerous Ravindra Jadeja almost clinching the victory with a boundary and then No 11 Khaleel Ahmed scampering home for his life to tie the scores, only a single was all that was required off two deliveries.| Asia Cup 2018

If inexperience cost them dearly in the two games against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the rub of the green went their way as Rashid bowled a rank half-tracker, a delivery that Jadeja would have dispatched in the Dubai International Stadium gallery.

But to the Indian team’s horror, he didn’t get the timing right and the resultant catch was taken by Najibullah Zadran, who covered some distance to take a fine running catch at deep mid-wicket region.

More (Sports) than the result, Afghanistan’s performance was reiteration that they are ready to take on any team in shorter formats of the game.

India’s support was vociferous but the bravehearts from the war-torn nation became sentimental favourites as the tournament progressed as they won hearts with their raw talent and cent per cent commitment.

Opener Mohammad Shahzad had set up the game for Afghanistan with a whirlwind 124 off 116, the most significant hundred of his career, to take his team to 252 for eight.

The 253-run target was a tricky one for India. India, who have already qualified for the final on Friday, remained unbeaten in the competition though they were left disappointed with the tie. Afghanistan players, on the other hand, can go back home with their heads held high, having competed hard in the tournament.

India made as many as five changes in the eleven to give an opportunity to the reserves and rest key players including captain Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal.

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IPL 2018: Knight Riders beat RCB by 4 wickets; Narine, Karthik shine

Light to moderate rain and thundershowers are expected in Kolkata on Sunday as the cricketers and fans will have their fingers crossed for the marquee IPL clash

 

Kolkata Knight Riders beat Royal Challengers Banglore by 4 wickets chasing 177. Narine's magnificent fifty and Dinesh Karthik's mature innings helped KKR to win comfortably in the end. RCB failed in the bowling department and could not capitalise on the faliing of wickets

Kolkata Knight Riders innings report

After 15 overs

Nitish Rana and Captian Dinesh Karthik rebuilt the innings. Scoring a tad above run a ball, both roasted the strike well and did not miss on hitting a loosner. Chahal was hammered when he came back into the attack. Washington Sundar took Rana's wicket. Rana was dismissed for 34 off 25 balls. Karthik was joined by Rinku Singh. By the end of 15 overs, KKr was at 141-4.

After 12 overs

KKR were cruising towards victory as the RCB bowlers looked clueless. After the fall of Uthappa's wicket, Nitish Rana and Captian Dinesh Karthik rebuilt the innings. Sloppy fielding and failure to convert half chances cost RCB. At the end of 12 overs, RCB was 112-3

End of powerplay: KKR

Sunil Narine did for KKR what Lokesh Rahul had done in the previous match for KXIP. Narine blasted the RBC bowling and scored 50 of just 17 balls. He smashed the blowers all across the park and brought down the asking rate heavily. He made 50 off 19 and was dismissed by Umesh Yadav. Nitish Rana joined Uthappa. Earlier, opner Chris Lynn was dismissed by Woakes for 5. At the end of powerplay, KKR was 68-2.

Opener Chirs Lynn was dismissed by Chris Woakes for 5 after Sunil Narine bashed Chahal's first over.

Royal Challengers Bangalore's innings report

End of innings

RCB batsmen failed to capitalise on the foundation built by McCullum and deVilliers. Constant fall of wickets kept the run rate in check. However, Mandeep Singh played a brilliant cameo in the death overs and smashed Vinay Kumar for 16 runs in the last over. He eventually was dismissed for 37 from 18 balls. In the 20 allotted overs, RCB managed to score 176-7.

After 15 overs

AB deVillers wen on a rampage before being dismissed by Nitish Rana. He made 44 runs off 23 balls. Kohli was dismissed on the very next ball as he struggled to face the spinner. RCB was at 132-4 after 15 overs.

After 10 overs

After giving a decent start to the team, Brendon McCullum was dismissed for 43 by Sunil Narine. A B de Villiers joined Virat Kohli. Despite hitting a few boundaries, Virat seems to be struggling to score runs. On the other hand, de Villiers hit Yadav for two back-to-back sixes. At the end of the 10 overs, RCB was at 82-2.

Story till powerplay

Put into bat by Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Banglore was off to a flying start as T20 specialist Brendon McCullum smashed 14 runs off the very first over by Vinay Kumar. Opener Quinton de Kock was dismissed cheaply by Piyush Chawla. Captain Virat Kohli came into bat kept the scoring rate going, while McCullum was busy punishing the bowlers. They had a partnership of 38 runs in 26 balls. McCullum did the bulk of the scoring as Dinesh Karthik tried variety of slower bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav and Piyush Chawla.

At the end of the powerplay, RCB was at 52-1.

Team head to head:

Overall: Matches – 20, Kolkata Knight Riders won – 11, Royal Challengers Bangalore won – 9

At the Eden Gardens: Matches – 8, Kolkata Knight Riders won – 5, Royal Challengers Bangalore won – 3

Trivia ahead of KKR vs RCB match: The captain winning the toss opted to chase in each of the 7 IPL matches played at the Eden Gardens last season.

Kohli scored 1,750 runs as an opener from 43 innings at an average of 53.03

In the seven IPL matches played at the Eden Gardens last season, quick bowlers picked up a total of 61 wickets (at strike-rate of a wicket every 16.5 balls), while the spinners collected 24 wickets at a strike-rate of a wicket every 23 deliveries.

Only 3 players have captained the Kolkata Knight Riders in the ten seasons of the IPL so far – namely Sourav Ganguly, Brendon McCullum and Gautam Gambhir. Dinesh Karthik will become the 4th player to lead the franchise.

Click here: IPL 2018