Bowling experiment cost us the game: Dhoni

A failed experiment with bowling in death overs cost India the warm-up match against New Zealand, revealed Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.


Dhoni, who carried out a few experiments in Monday’s match at the Lord’s, said he kept Ishant Sharma for middle overs, a move which paid dividends, but the idea of the pacers bowling a new length at death did not really click.

“Instead of yorkers, we wanted to bowl back of the length deliveries in the final three overs. Unfortunately it didn’t work,” Dhoni told reporters after losing the match by nine runs.


“We have seen other teams do it regularly so we wanted to use this opportunity of warm-up game to try it out.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work today. If we have to go to the basics of bowling yorkers, we would do so,” he said.

India conceded 41 runs in the final three overs and compounded the problem by scoring just 24 runs off the final four over of its chase.

“It’s just not about doing well in the first few overs or in the end. It’s critical that teams don’t lose too many wickets between overs 6 and 10. That’s why somebody like Ishant can be critical in the middle overs. He could dry up the runs and batsmen could lose wickets in trying to go after him,” Dhoni said.
Successful move

However, Dhoni’s idea of promoting Rohit Sharma as an opener in place of Virender Sehwag, who is carrying a shoulder injury, was very successful.

Indians suffered their fourth successive defeat at the hands of New Zealand in T20 and the Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori, with figures of three for 24, once again played a critical hand.

“Four defeats in four matches is a bit of concern,” conceded the Indian captain, adding that “however, in one of the overs he (Vettori) was also hit for plenty by Suresh Raina. So it’s not as if he can’t be attacked or 40-50 runs can’t be taken off his bowling.”
Short boundary

Dhoni pointed out that a side of the ground was shorter though he felt it’s going to be the trend in Twenty20 games.

“One side is always shorter and teams try to take advantage of it. If it’s managed well, even a score of 80 runs from the final eight overs is possible.

“However, once the asking rate goes beyond nine and half, it becomes difficult,” he said.

Dhoni felt that spinners would call the shots in the World Championship.

“Most of the sides have quality spinners in their ranks as they understand slow bowlers have a huge role to play. Spinners, I am sure, will have a bigger impact in this tournament,” he said.