India vs Afghanistan: Tendulkar unhappy with Dhoni, Kedar's approach
Legend Sachin Tendulkar has expressed his unhappiness about the approach followed by MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav in India's ICC World Cup 2019 match versus Afghanistan. Tendulkar questioned their thinking and accused the two of lacking positive intent. India struggled with their batting and posted a paltry score of 224/8. However, they still managed to win the match. Here's more.
Dhoni, Jadhav's 57-run stand comes off 84 balls
When Virat Kohli got out in the 31st over, the score read 135/4. From there on Dhoni and Jadhav added 57 runs for the fifth wicket. The issue was that the batsmen consumed 84 balls and were tied by the Afghan spinners. Dhoni managed a 52-ball 28 in the end and was dismissed by Rashid Khan. India never quite got going and managed 224/8.
Tendulkar lashes out at MSD and Jadhav
"I felt slightly disappointed, it could have been much better. I was also not happy with the partnership between Kedar and Dhoni, it was very slow. There was no positive intent," Tendulkar told India Today.
Intent could have been much better, says Tendulkar
This was the first real test for India's middle order in this edition of the tournament. The surface held on and tested the batsmen, but the intensity wasn't there. "There were not enough outings for the middle order batsmen till now and that put pressure on them. But the intent could have been much better by the middle order batsmen," Tendulkar said.
India's middle order looked dodgy
Jadhav, who got a first real outing in the CWC 19, was under pressure. The utility player managed a 68-ball 52 in the end. India needed the other middle order batsmen to take the initiative and ease the situation for Jadhav. But both Vijay Shankar (29) and Dhoni didn't look assured at the crease. That affected India's run-rate in the middle phase.
Others didn't help Kedar, feels Tendulkar
"Kedar was under pressure, he had not had an outing up until now. He needed someone to take charge of the situation early on but that did not happen. Those in-between overs could have been better and that's why Kedar was under pressure," added Tendulkar.
India need to apply themselves well going forward
India won the match in the end by 11 runs at the Rose Bowl. The bowlers came out and delivered the goods against Afghanistan. Going forward in the tourney, India need to apply themselves better on these sort of pitches. Every pitch will not be a flat track. Also, the middle order will need to regroup and put in a better shift.
India face West Indies next on June 27
India's next assignment is against a depleted West Indies outfit on June 27. India will look to stay unbeaten and seal a fifth victory in CWC 19. They are currently third on the 10-team table.
