Live Score
Cricket Teams
Cricket Players
Ahead of decider against New Zealand, MS Dhoni shows intent at practice
After moving to the No 4 spot in the batting order, MS Dhoni’s is aware of the responsibility.
After moving to the No 4 spot in the batting order, MS Dhoni’s is aware of the responsibility.
On the eve of the final ODI against New Zealand at the ACA-VDCA Stadium, Dhoni had a marathon batting session on Friday.
Not happy with his 31-ball 11 in the last ODI at Ranchi, the India skipper chose to practice with coloured rubber balls. He took throw-downs, which were pitched at good length, half volleys and full. He didn’t use power and concentrated on middling the ball. The good-length balls were defended and he tried to middle the other deliveries.
According to an experienced coach, practicing with a coloured rubber ball helps adjust to the length early on. “The colour helps a batsman to quickly register the length of the ball in a match situation. There is a specific colour for different lengths. So, during the match when the ball is pitched at that particular length, it helps the batsman get into position quickly,” he said.
Virat Kohli too had practiced with rubber balls ahead of the Kolkata Test against New Zealand. He went on to score a double hundred in the next Test at Indore. “It was because we play three formats. We sometimes do tend (to go) on a flow. So it’s important to work on your skills that bring in stability to your game. It’s about repeating those things. It’s about controlling the ball that’s bouncing and not coming at a pace,” Kohli had explained.
