IND vs NZ 2017: Bhuvneshwar Kumar Throws His Support Behind Under-Fire MS Dhoni

The critics are once again taking a shot at Mahendra Singh Dhoni after the latter’s uncharacteristic innings against New Zealand in the second T20 International on Saturday (November 4). The former India skipper had started the year under huge pressure but had managed to silence his detractors with some good outings in the Champions Trophy and the ODI series which followed.

However, his latest knock has once again opened the debate on whether he should hang his boot. The World Cup-winning skipper had walked into bat when India was reeling at 67 for four in the tenth over in pursuit of a daunting 197. The task was definitely tough but with Virat Kohli going great guns at the other end, the hosts would have surely fancied their chances.

However, Dhoni’s usual way of consuming too many balls early in the innings took the momentum off the chase, as the Men in Blue eventually lost the game by 40 runs.

Dhoni managed just 17 runs off the first 20 balls he faced before launching Ish Sodhi for his first six. At a time, when the team needed more than ten runs per over, Dhoni batting with a strike-rate of less than 100 all but sealed the fate of the game in the visitors’ favour. The 36-year old managed to get his strike-rate over 100 towards the end, scoring 49 off 37 but it was too late by then.

The knock has made many including former India stars Ajit Agarkar and VVS Laxman to say that Dhoni should retire from the shortest format of the game. However, speaking ahead of the final T20I against New Zealand, India fast-bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar shut down the critics by saying that the team management is firmly behind the ‘legend’.

“If you look at his record, nobody (team management) is really bothered. Whatever he has done, he has been doing well, he knows he is a legend. Whatever he is doing, it is benefitting the Indian team. No one has any doubts about him,” he told the reporters at the pre-match press conference.

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