Denied by weather,Dhoni defends decision to bat on

When MS Dhoni decided that India would bat on till stumps on Sunday,eyebrows were raised....

When MS Dhoni decided that India would bat on till stumps on Sunday,eyebrows were raised. On Monday,they continued to bat and as the bowlers looked desperate by evening for an extra hour to dismiss the New Zealand batsmen,fingers were pointed at his late declaration. With rain expected on the final day and the pitch becoming slow,there was a feeling around the Basin Reserve that India should have accounted for Tuesdays weather forecast.

But the Indian skipper stuck to his guns when he was asked to look back at his decision after the match ended in a draw. Its about the mindset. When you have that extra 80-odd runs on the board,you can have extra catchers hanging around for a longer duration of time. In the second innings throughout,we wanted to attack,attack and attack. Even if one ball goes in the air,you want a fielder to catch it. Thats only possible when you have those extra 70-80 runs, Dhoni said.

Cant bank on weather

He went on to say that all he wanted was 110-120 overs to seal the victory. With two days of play left,we knew it might rain,but was not certain at that point of time. With the amount of wind that goes around,there was a very good chance that the clouds wouldve been blown away. You cant really bank on the weather. What we were expecting was a minimum of 110 overs. But we didnt even get that much, he added.

All that India got was 94.3 overs,and since they managed 8 wickets during that time,things at least seemed to be going according to Dhonis 110-over plan.

Sachins spell

But if it had not been for Sachin Tendulkars unexpected helping hand in the bowling department,India wouldnt have looked as close to victory as they did when play was called off. Tendulkar first accounted for left-hander James Franklin lbw by a leg-spinner and later the dangerous Brendon McCullum,who was caught behind after being foxed by the turn. Subtly using the googly and the top-spinner,he had the batsmen in sixes and sevens right through his spell.

Its rare of late that Tendulkar opts to bowl,and Dhoni said that he had asked for the ball when wickets were not falling during the first session. His last Test wicket came in August,2007,and he rolls his arm over in the nets only when the bowlers are batting. But on Tuesday he was on spot from his first over. After taking a couple of wickets before lunch,he was back in the attack in the second session.

But for a dropped catch by Ishant Sharma,Tendulkar would have accounted for No.10 Iain OBrien as well,exposing arguably the worst No 11 batsman in the world,Chris Martin.

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In case that had happened,Dhoni may not have had to give explanations about his early declaration after a historic triumph in New Zealand.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More