MS Dhoni should bat at No.5 in World Cup: Sachin Tendulkar
New Delhi: Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is of the belief that India’s safest hands MS Dhoni should bat 4th down for India in the upcoming World Cup. Cricketing world’s biggest event is supposed to start from May 30 and will be held in England and Wales.
Answering the pertinent question of who is India’s number 4, Sachin said that Dhoni should come at number 5 and hence opening the number 4 slot for World Cup debutant Vijay Shankar. With the fiery combination of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma opening India’s batting, captain Virat Kohli will then come at number 3.
“My personal opinion is Dhoni should be batting at five. I still don’t know what the team combination would be, but if you are going Rohit and Shikhar as openers, to Virat [Kohli] at No. 3 and whoever at No. 4 then Dhoni could be No. 5. Then Hardik Pandya, an explosive player, follows them,” Sachin Tendulkar told in an interview to ESPNcricinfo.
“That way the experienced batsmen are well spaced out and Dhoni can stretch the game towards the end where he himself can be explosive along with Hardik,” Tendulkar said.
“From No 5-8 you are looking at finishers, who stay till the end and soak in that pressure. I feel we are well equipped to do that.”
Dhawan is the only left-hander in India’s batting line and Tendulkar said the opener must bat deep to keep the bowlers busy.
“A left-right combination always helps because that means the bowler has to adjust his line every now and then and the (bowling) captain has also to keep thinking,” said Tendulkar.
When asked to pick his favorites for World Cup 2019, he said “India, England, Australia should be in the semis. The fourth could be one of New Zealand or Pakistan.”
Touchdown London #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/mWihuGrnjw
— BCCI (@BCCI) May 22, 2019
The entire team touched down in England on Wednesday and immediately began with net practice. The team will have their first warm-up against New Zealand on Saturday. India will then take on Bangladesh for their second practice match on Tuesday.
India start their World Cup 2019 campaign against South Africa on June 5 while the first match will be played between hosts England and South Africa at London.
Also Read: Sprinter Gomathi Marimuthu tests positive for 2nd time
Ms Kalinga