India vs Pakistan 3rd ODI cricket match: Dhoni doubtful

January 5, 2013 | Filed under: Sports | Posted by:

By NVONews.Com Correspondent,

New Delhi: India vs Pakistan 3rd ODI cricket match is going to be another disappointing show if reports appearing in the media are to be believed. Reports suggest that Indian captain and one of the best performers for the team Mahendar Singh Dhoni may not be able to play in the match set to be played at Ferozshah Kotla ground here in New Delhi.

Dhoni, despite criticism aimed at him from both commentators and match lovers across the world has played excedigly well not just in the one day international series, but also in the two match Twenty20 series that India was able to square off following the disastrous start in the first cricket match.

Having already lost first two matches of the one day series, Indian fans were expecting the hosts to win the third ODI match to get some solace after one of the worst shows by the Indian cricket team against their arch rivals from across the border.

But if Dhoni remains out of the team for the third match, Pakistani captain Misbahul Haq may realise his dream of a whitewash against India. This is the worst horror for any cricket fan in the country and if that happen, his axing from the post of the captain is certain. Dhoni has been India’s top performer in the series, which the hosts have already lost after going 0-2 down. The Indian captain scored 113 not out in a losing cause in the first ODI in Chennai, while in Kolkata he was again the top scorer hitting an unbeaten 54. “I am doubtful for tomorrow as of now. I suffered a back problem during the practice today,” Dhoni told reporters on the eve of the game. “Dinesh Karthik has been called up as my backup and we will take a final call before the match.”

While talking to reporters here in New Delhi Indian captain said, “It’s important for us to prepare for the next series. We will feature our best eleven for the match.” Dhoni though backed under fire coach Duncan Fletcher, saying that coaches only had a limited role and it was up to the players to perform on the field. “Players need to take responsibility. Coaches can only do so much, it is the players who would finally have to perform on the field. The utmost responsibility lies with an individual,” he said. He rued the fact that the Indian team had failed to put pressure on the visiting Pakistan team and said that the entire team as a unit had failed to fire. “This series we haven’t batted well. In the earlier series sometimes our batsmen would do well and sometimes our bowlers. As a combined unit we have failed to perform.” Dhoni shrugged off questions on the growing pressure over his status as the captain of team. “If I started taking pressure after every match and listened to everything the media and the others had to say, I would have crumbled by now,” he commented.

Indian team has been struggling under Dhoni for last several months and after this series, a shake up is certain.

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Posted by on January 5, 2013. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
  • Karam Parkash Bajaj

    It is just rubbish to blame the better performing player, Dhoni, just because he is the captain of the team comprising of non performing so called seniors. He is still leading by example. The under performance of bowlers cannot be taken as an excuse as they delivered their bit. It is the failure of the tp order in batting. Reason? Complacency. Probably, the players at the top of the table did not tune up with the high pressure fixtures……………. Blame not – perform, come out of the shell.

    K.P.Bajaj, Advocate

  • aziz

    Even though I am from Pakistan and obviously support Pakistani team but I am nutral when giving my vote of performance to anyone and I must say that Dhoni is not to be blamed for the bad performance of the team, Dhoni is one of the best after sachin and they are both my favorite players and in fact they are legends.

  • Saifuddin Ahmed

    I didn’t see any problem the way dhoni lead the indian team. He utilized his bowlers properly but they couldn’t do much. It’s not his fault if fielders are dropping catches. Being a pakistani, I’m happy that Pakistan is winning the series but at the same time I don’t like the way media has targeted Dhoni.