ICC World Cup 2019: 'Technical Blunder' to send MS Dhoni at No 7 in semi-final against New Zealand

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ICC World Cup 2019: 'Technical Blunder' to send MS Dhoni at No 7 in semi-final against New Zealand
ICC World Cup 2019: 'Technical Blunder' to send MS Dhoni at No 7 in semi-final against New Zealand

New Delhi : Former Indian cricketers Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman raised their fingers on management's decision to send Mahendra Singh Dhoni at No 7 during a difficult chase against New Zealand in the semi-final game of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

During the match, Team India's top order collapsed and they had to face a 18-run defeat despite fighting half-centuries from Ravindra Jadeja and Dhoni.

Following the defeat, Ganguly and Laxman told the official broadcaster that Dhoni should have been sent up the order as India left it too late to issue a counter attack. 

"It was a tactical blunder to send Dhoni that low. They could have said the wicket of Dinesh Karthik and Hardik Pandya and let Dhoni build a partnership with Rishabh Pant," Laxman said during a chat show for the official broadcaster.

"In a run-chase like this, you cannot send a batsman like Dhoni at number 7. He could've come to bat early and batted the entire innings. Then we would have had Jadeja, Pandya and Karthik, whose contribution in four and five overs have been immense in the past. He (Karthik) struggles only when he has to begin the game from scratch," Ganguly echoed Laxman's sentiments.

Now, when India has lost the semi-final game, New Zealand will be facing hosts England or defending champions Australia in the final game at Lords.

Opting to bat first in the rain-hit contest played over two days, New Zealand's 239 for eight looked far from imposing against India's formidable batting lineup. But Matt Henry (3-37) and Trent Boult (2-42) ripped the heart out of India's top order and spinner Mitchell Santner struck two crucial blows in the middle overs.