Opinion Keep those emotions out,Mahi
At the business end of the tournament,he needs to be business like.
India face defending champions England on this weekend,Sunday to be precise,followed by crucial Super Eight games against Pakistan,South Africa and Australia.
That means its time skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni tied loose ends and keeps emotions out while deciding the playing XI or the batting order.
At the business end of the tournament,he needs to be business like. In doing so he needs to revisit Yuvraj Singhs role at number four in the line-up.
In terms of current form,Suresh Raina or Rohit Sharma,who made a half-century in a warm-up game,will serve the Indian batting line up better by coming in after Virat Kohli at number three.
Yuvrajs six during his 18 off 26 balls against Afghanistan was pleasing to the eye but T20 isnt all about big shots.
Its about rotating the strike by running the quick singles and squeezing that extra second by putting pressure on the fielder. Recent games,including his comeback T20 against New Zealand in Chennai,indicate that the southpaw is yet to achieve peak fitness.
Since better teams dont give away many boundary balls like Afghanistan,runs need to be stolen in the middle overs. Sharma,Raina and Dhoni have a better chance of rattling the fielding side by being on toes all the time.
Lower down the order and once the in-form batsmen have been dismissed,Yuvraj will have the opportunity to use the long handle ideal considering that the overs will be running out.
Yuvraj batted at No.4 because he was Indias best. At the moment it will be foolhardy for Dhoni or even Yuvraj to believe so.
gs.vivek@expressindia.com
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