MS Dhoni Looks Physically Fit, But Does Not Seem Match-Fit: Javed Miandad

Former Pakistan skipper Javed Miandad has weighed in on MS Dhoni’s string of low scores and poor form in the ongoing edition of IPL. Not only are the Chennai Super Kings languishing at the sixth position in the points table but MS Dhoni is yet to fire with the bat. Javed Miandad feels that the former Indian skipper might be physically fit; however, has not been match-fit.

In nine matches so far, MS Dhoni has only 136 runs with a best score of 47* and a strike rate of 132.40, averaging 27.20. In the last match against Delhi Capitals, the 39-year old managed only three runs that denied the Super Kings a total of nearly 200. The inability of MS Dhoni to finish games like before has adversely hurt Chennai Super Kings’ campaign and could well be the first season where they do not qualify for the playoffs.

Javed Miandad pointed out that a player’s physical ability goes down with age and as he/she grows older, they need to work hard on their fitness to keep going at the highest level. The former Pakistan skipper still sees MS Dhoni as physically fit; however, he remains doubtful about him being match fit. Miandad underlined that if a player is not entirely match-fit, the timing and reflexes get slower.

“Your physical ability is inversely proportional to your age. As you grow older, your physical ability goes down and you must work harder on your fitness to get going at the highest level […] Physically Dhoni is still very fit. I am talking about his match fitness. For a player of Dhoni’s age, it becomes even more difficult […] To me, the problem areas are his timing and reflexes. If a player is not totally match-fit, his timing and reflexes get slower,” Miandad told Indian Express.

Javed Miandad suggests MS Dhoni to increase his batting time in the nets and increase exercise drills:

Javed Miandad further observed that MS Dhoni’s position at the time of playing certain shots was not right; hence, he needs to increase his exercise drills and batting time in the nets. He concluded by suggesting the CSK skipper to increase the exercise counts and spend more hours batting at the nets.

“What I have seen, his body positions were not right for certain shots. This is a reason why he is struggling with his timing […] My suggestion to Dhoni will be to increase his exercise drills and batting time at the nets. If he is doing 20 sit-ups (for example), he can increase it to 30. If he doing five sprints, he can increase it to eight. If he is spending an hour at the nets for batting practice, he can increase it to two hours,” he added.

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