ENG vs IND, 2018: Mahendra Singh Dhoni Needs to Keep Rotating the Strike - Ravi Bopara

England all-rounder Ravi Bopara believes that Mahendra Singh Dhoni needs to keep rotating the strike. Dhoni has failed to hit the ground running in the initial stages of his innings in the 50-over format. Thus, the veteran Indian batsman has failed to get to the other end.

Furthermore, the 37-year-old Dhoni has also found the going tough against the spinners in the early stage of his knock. Therefore, it has led to the build-up in the pressure as far as his rotation of strike is concerned.

Consequently, Dhoni must find a way to keep rotating the strike to ease off the pressure.

However, there is no doubt that MS Dhoni‘s power-hitting capabilities are on the wane. He had found his touch in season eleven of the Indian Premier League. But the International format brings new challenges to the table.

Meanwhile, Bopara also believes that as the Indian team has lost wickets in a cluster, it hasn’t helped Dhoni’s cause.

“Dhoni has been put under a lot of pressure with wickets falling around him, that’s not been a massive help. But I know that Dhoni should be able to rotate the strike a little better. He has never been great at rotation off-spin, what he can do is strike a good ball,” Dhoni said while talking to ESPN Cricinfo.

 

“If you’re unable to rotate well, you have to take the odd risk and get a few boundaries. That’s one thing Dhoni has been lacking recently. In the IPL, he took that risk early in his innings. I felt he has changed and gone back to how he was, which was good to watch, but he needs to bring that to the International level,” he added.

Bopara added the pitch was difficult to bat on during the Indian innings. Furthermore, the English spinners were also right on the money with their line and length.

“I don’t think this team has a problem in the middle order. We have to accept that the pitch was tough to bat on. It turned and the English spinners bowled well, even the good shots were going for just ones and twos,” he said.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is under the scrutiny as he has failed to deliver with the bat.

However, it should also be noted the Jharkhand-base veteran is not at the top of his batting prowess. Moreover, he has also lacked support in the lower order as India has lost regular wickets.