Ahmedabad: Sehwag says that Dhoni’s performance as captain in the opening match of Premier Cricket was disappointing.
Chennai and Gujarat clashed in the first match of the Premier League cricket series in Ahmedabad. Chennai (178/7) chased the team’s target and Gujarat (182/5) won by 5 wickets. Fast bowler Deshpande, who replaced Ambati Rayudu as an ‘Impact’ player in the Chennai side, scored 51 runs in 20 balls (3.2 overs).
Even though the experienced international ‘all rounder’ Moeen Ali was in the team, Dhoni did not give him a single over. It was surprising that Deshpande was given a chance.
Former Indian team player Sehwag said, “Dhoni made a mistake by not giving Moeen Ali a chance to bowl against the Gujarat team. He should have been used in the ‘middle over’. Had this been done, there would have been no need to call ‘Ran Vallaal’ Deshpande,” he said.
Former Kolkata player Manoj Tiwari said, “Deshpande used to bowl in the ‘middle’ overs of the match in domestic cricket. It was surprising that Dhoni called him to bowl in the beginning. In return, Rajvardhan could have been given the opening overs,” he said.
