Published: Dec 21, 2017, 09:34 AM (IST)
Edited: Dec 21, 2017, 10:05 AM (IST)
When KL Rahul was cleaned up for 61, India were 112 for 3 in the 15th over. Manish Pandey combined with MS Dhoni to register a 68-run unbeaten stand off just 33 balls. That laid the foundation for India’s 93-run win over Sri Lanka in the first T20 at Cuttack. Dhoni started off cautiously before ending with a 22-ball 39 not out. Rohit Sharma indicated that fans might get to see Dhoni bat more often at No. 4 in T20s.
“Great finish to our innings by MS and Pandey. Pandey hasn’t had much game time in the middle, so to come out and bat like that is good. And MSD, he’s just class. No. 4 really paid off. He’s played so many games for us, won so many games for us and moving forward, we feel making him bat at No. 4 is ideal. That allows Manish and Dinesh [Karthik] to finish games off,” Rohit told after India’s win before adding that the team wants Dhoni to play more freely now. “For a long period of time, MS has been finishing games off, but we want him to bat freely now, without that pressure.”
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During the match, Dhoni also went past AB de Villiers to register most dismissals in T20 history. AB has 72 dismissals in this format, Dhoni with his tally of 4 in the match has 74 now. India will play their next T20I against Sri Lanka at Holkar Stadium, Indore on Friday.
