I would like current playing conditions to change: MS Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels the current four fielder rule should be changed as it heavily favours batsmen.

World Cup 2015, Aus vs Ind, Ind vs Aus, australia vs india, india vs australia, mahenra singh dhoni, ms dhoni, dhoni, Sports, Cricket, Sports news, Cricket news, World Cup news

MS Dhoni feels strongly about the current playing conditions in ODI cricket and feels a change in the field restrictions is necessary to give bowlers a fair shot. (Source: AP)

A staunch critic of the ICC’s four-fielder theory which has led to regular run-riots in one-dayers, India cricket captain Mahendra Singh feels the current rule should be changed as it heavily favours batsmen. (Full Coverage| Points table| Fixtures)

With lack of a seamer-all-rounder, Dhoni’s struggle was evident yesterday when his fifth bowler, left-arm spinner
Ravindra Jadeja, failed to check the flow of runs in the lost World Cup semifinal against Pakistan.

Dhoni has time and again made it clear that India’s bowling has been affected by this rule of not having more than
four fielders outside the 30-yard circle.

Story continues below this ad

“It’s my personal opinion, I would like them to change it. In the history of cricket, we have not seen double hundreds in ODIs and now in three years’ time you see three double hundreds (actual number is six) being scored,” the Indian captain said.

READ: MS Dhoni tried…

From India only, there are four double hundreds in ODIs with Rohit Sharma being the owner of two, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag having one each. Among others, Chris Gayle and Martin Guptill have scored a double ton each.

“A lot of people might say that a lot of dot balls that are being bowled because of that extra fielder inside. If that’s the case (logic), rather than having the option of keeping fielders outside, you might as well bring all 11 inside the circle to have more dot balls,” Dhoni said taking a dig at the ICC rule with straight face.