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Showing posts with label MSD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MSD. Show all posts

Wednesday 12 April 2017

IPL 2017: MS Dhoni Dancing To RPS Tunes

#IPL #IPL2017
#IndianPremierLeague

#MSDhoni appears to be enjoying spending time with teammates in the first few days of the 2017 Indian Premier League (#IPL) season. The former India captain, known as #CaptainCool because of his temperament and ability to come through #Pressure situations unscathed, often updates fans about his personal life through his #Social media accounts.

He uploaded a short #Video on his #Instagram profile on Monday to let his #Fans know that everything was upbeat in the Rising Pune Supergiants (#RPS) camp, despite a shaky start to their season.

The video has Dhoni #Dancing alongside teammate #AjinkyaRahane with the IPL's highest paid foreign player #BenStokes watching in the background. 

The Pune franchise has had a mixed start to their season, winning their opening match against #MI by seven wickets and then losing to #KXIP by six wickets and #DD by a whopping 97 runs!

"#RPSvMI Smith proves who's the king of the jungle. Overshadows Dhoni totally. #Captains innings. Great move to appoint him as captain," Harsh Goenka had tweeted during the #RPS opening match against #MumbaiIndians on April 6.

After receiving severe criticism from Dhoni's supporters on #Twitter, Harsh deleted the tweet.

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Sunday 22 May 2016

IPL 2016 - Dhoni Proves He Is Still Force To Reckon With vs KXIP

#IPL2016
#RisingPuneSupergiants vs #KXIP
21st May 2016, Vizag

Billed as the "Battle for the Bottom Of Table" clash, this was an inconsequential rubber between two sides that struggled throughout the season (especially KXIP who couldn't raise the bar when needed while RPS couldn't deliver knockout punches in those closing moments).

#MuraliVijay has done wonders for his own form since promotion to captaincy (at the expense of David Miller) halfway through the season. He is playing like a dream and continued his brilliant run with yet another fluent half century. With the classy #Amla for company he gave #KXIP a great start adding 60 in 7 overs before Amla fell.

After #Saha fell cheaply, he got together with #Gurkeerat to push their team with another 58 run stand. Unfortunately, he was bowled by #RAshwin and that put brakes on their scoring too. A flurry of wickets for Ashwin (his best bowling performance after a long, long time and his poor form has led to RPS failing to qualify for the Qualifiers/Eliminator) meant the score read 172 for 7 in 20 overs. 15 runs short.

However, as they always say "Runs On the Board" always plays a vital role in crunch games when pressure is on. #Rahane and #Khawaja started well but #Sandeep snapped Rahane while #AxarPatel foxed #Bailey to pull things back. #SaurabhTiwary and Khawaja smashed a few but 3 wickets in 2 overs for addition of just 8 runs pushed Pune completely on the backfoot. From 78 for 2 they slumped to 85 for 5 in a blink of an eye.

Situation perfectly positioned for the "Greatest Finisher Of All Time" - #MSDhoni. He first steadied the landslide with #ThisaraPerera to get the game within his striking zone. His usual tactic of taking the game deep and building up pressure on the other side.

The equation 2 overs - 30 runs to win. Steep but right in the MS Zone...

The make things worse, Perera was out first ball of the 19th over caught behind off Mohit. A big blow since Perera;s lusty hits were crucial for RPS cause. R Ashwin joined him. Again he steadied himself that over with just 7 runs taking the game to the last over. Last overs are MS Dynasty.

Still 23 from 6 was a bit too much for Dhoni, who has not been in great form off-late in close matches.

Ball 1 - DOT BALL - Gold dust! Axar fires this one into #Dhoni who mistimes it mid-wicket.

Ball 2 - WIDE ... Pressure of bowling to #Dhoni!! Axar fires this down leg and Saha does well to gather that wide.

Ball 2 - CRASSSSH .... SIX over long on. #MS powers this with brute force.

Ball 3 - CRACK ... BUT WHAT A SAVE !!! ... Dhoni smashes this over cover and wants to enjoy that boundary. In flies superman #Amla and makes an unbelievable stop on the boundary. Big chance to snap two missed by Dhoni. Is this the moment?

Ball 4 - VHOOM .... Dhoni corrects his shot making line and smashes this one  over long off for a one bounce boundary. Well done. #Axar under tremendous pressure now to defend 12 from 2 balls.

Ball 5- SMASSSSH - Cows corner is beckoning and MS pulverizes that short delivery to deep midwicket. What calmness and power under pressure! #Axar the opposite - cringy and sweaty.

6  needed to win. 4 wont do. Has to be the maximum.

Ball 6 - HELICOPTER SHOT ! - Flicks this one in his inimitable style over mid-wicket once again! Better delivery from #Axar but #Dhoni is right upto it, clears his front leg and launches this one to finish an incredible game in the coolest way possible.

No expressions of joy on his face. Usual self. Coolly walks to his partner Ashwin and hugs him. No bellowing, hand gestures, angry face or relief. That's #CaptainCool #MSDhoni for you.

KXIP shouldn't be disappointed. They ran into the Finishing Machine who just turned it on tonight.

RPS ending their campaign in 7th place, KXIP in 8th on the points table. Both teams eliminated from the championship. But, owing to Dhoni ... RPS won the battle of honour.

Man of the Match: M S Dhoni

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Monday 4 May 2015

Why Is MS Dhoni Getting Bowled?

Whats happening to #CSK captain and "cool" #MSD?
He seems to have developed a habit of getting bowled at this IPL.

In the last two games he has been out bowled to fairly innocuous deliveries from opponent bowlers.

In the first instance, he was bowled right through the gate by a Piyush Chawla (of #KKR) delivery that googled a bit and took his middle stump. Agreed that the ball seemed to stay a bit low but never seen MS getting out in this manner.

In the following game against #SRH, a rookie Ashish Reddy sneaked in a straighter one yet again to dislodge Dhonis stumps. This time, too, he was trying to push the delivery to on side and completely missed it. 

Although its just two games and cannot look too much into it, MS has rarely been bowled playing nothing shots like these. Is something bothering him? His personal form at the moment isn't great too. He hasn't won a game for this team single handedly so far. Perhaps, a game like that could just ignite him? 

Inspite of his poor form, CSK still sitting pretty at #2 on the points table. 
Just goes to show, its not about the MS show with this team. Others are standing up brilliantly to guide their team home on most occasions.

As with MS, we're looking for that super cameo (that we've related to him all these years) in coming games!

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Thursday 19 March 2015

CWC15 - MS Dhoni - Know Your Player



MS Dhoni is remarkable. His destiny is powerful.
His soaring imagination will cause him to support projects that seem unfeasible and then surprises and confuses everyone by showing that they are indeed feasible. The key to achieve the impossible is their rare combination of imagination and fierce determination.

The greatest challenge for him is dealing with criticism or rejection, the way forward for him is to take on board what is being said and learn from it. Criticism and rejection are simply stepping stones on the way to success.

He has to toughen up emotionally become more objective and realistic in his approach to the game play. He is truly ingenious and creative.

His luck maker is when he confronts something bigger and tougher than him the tough gets going if he trusts his intuitions he is in for a bigger role and happenings in life.

His Power Thought
‘”From now on I will look at every obstacle as an opportunity.”

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Friday 6 March 2015

CWC 2015 - Is Dhoni The Best Finisher In Cricket Ever?

#MSDhoni has pulled a rabbit out the hat once again!
This time in a crunch run chase vs #WestIndies at #WACA, #Perth in the ongoing #CWC15.

Wobbling at 107 for 5 and needing 75 runs to win with the untested lower order with him, he once again showed why he is the most feared and respected batsman in run chases. The calmness and methodology implemented seems to win him games as if it was a foregone conclusion!

It may be tight run chase with run pressure (v Aus at the Gabba in 2011, v Sri Lanka at Jamaica in a tri series final in 2013 and so many games) or it may be a dogged run chase (like today), he has the tools and mindset for them all... seldom does he fall short of the winning total. He is always there at the end either hitting the winning runs or helping his partner hit them. Its just extraordinary. A genius ability really to be able to do it over and over....

There have been some great finishers in the past including #MichaelBevan, #JavedMiandad and #LanceKluesner (these names just came to my mind .. a few more are in that list) but the regularity with which Dhoni pulls India out of these situations is exemplary. Also shows India's top order issues to handle pressure situations in second innings of a one day match.

To add to that he has to handle captaincy and Indian media that seems to tear into its captain at every single opportunity. 

Hats off #MS, a true modern great in ODIs.

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Sunday 22 February 2015

CWC 2015 LIVE - India Wins Toss Elects To Bat

#India v #SouthAfrica, #MCG
22nd Feb 2015

The biggest game in Pool B is about to get underway.
India have won the toss and elected to bat first on a hot #Melbourne afternoon.

#MSDhoni - Runs on the board in a big game. Playing with the same team that played against #Pak.
#ABDevilliers - Would have liked to bat first as well. We'll try to put pressure upfront.

Lets get started !!



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Thursday 19 February 2015

CWC 2015 - India v South Africa At The MCG on 22nd Feb 2015

‪#‎Ind‬ v ‪#‎Pak‬ done and dusted, India now take on ‪#‎SouthAfrica‬ in another scorcher of a league match on 22nd Feb 2015. 

Another #SuperSunday in the offing for #cricket fans! ‪#‎CWC2015‬ ‪#‎India‬ v ‪#‎SA‬ (‪#‎Proteas‬) at the ‪#‎MCG‬
India are down 0-3 in head to head ties against #SA in ‪#‎CWC‬ tournaments.

Is this their
 ‪#‎Mauka‬ to set the equation straight?
1992 - lost by 8 wickets
1999 - lost by 4 wickets
2011 - lost by 2 wickets
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Sunday 15 February 2015

CWC 2015 - Ind Beats Pak At Adelaide - Champions For India

Champions of #India's Historic win against #Pakistan at #Adelaide #CWC 2015

#Shikhar Dhawan​ - set the foundation with a un-Dhawan like innings - risk free and lot of patience. My man of the match really.

#Virat Kohli​ - got back into form and took to the Pak bowlers with usual disdain and touch of arrogance. Did most of the two chances he got.

#Suresh Raina​ - capitalized brilliantly on a solid platform and took the game away from Pak with his power hitting

#MS Dhoni​ - marshalled his troops well in this crunch game and on back of a some poor cricket over last three months. Press, media and supporters, including me, were gunning for his throat. His personal form is still a worry but this CWC needs Dhoni more as India captain than batsman.



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Friday 30 January 2015

Will Eng Steamroll Ind at WACA Today? (30 Jan 15)

We're nearing the end of the first innings of the virtual semi final between England and India at #WACA, Perth in the on going CarltonMid TriSeries. India have batted poorly yet again and may be closing in on a meagre score of about 200 (it reads 194 for 9 in 47.4 overs as I write this blog piece)

#StevenFinn once again the damager-in-chief with 3 wickets supported well by Anderson, Moeen Ali and Woakes.

For a change ... the Indian openers gave a solid start :) (Rahane and Dhawan)
80 odd in 20 overs. Cautious but solid.
With wickets in hand, the charge would definitely on.
However, it seems the other batsman had decided to undo all the good work by collapsing like nine pins once the initial partnership was broken.

Kohli still playing at 3 (inspite of all the hoo-hah about him moving to 4 to add stability in the frail middle order) isn't doing much (he hasn't been able to carry his test form to one dayers unlike Steven Smith for Aus)

Raina, Rayudu, Jadeja, Binny - will they be able to do much on these Australian pitches in the world cup? nothing on show today suggested that's going to happen. Other teams in Pool B are merrily watching this Indian team disintegrate. More so the Pakistanis who are their first opponent in the WC Pool B opener at Adelaide Oval on 15th Feb.

MSD looks painfully out of sorts - batting wise (well ...) and mind wise (this was supposedly his best strength until a few months ago). Unless he really has some ace up his sleeve, he can safely pass on the World Cup to another team in two months time.

Will be back shortly with the Eng reply.
Batsmen have failed miserably. The bowlers haven't even started showing any fight yet on this tour.
Tough days ahead for Team India.

A conspiracy theory could be - England were deliberately scheduled to  play India at Brisbane and Perth (two of the fastest and bounciest tracks in Australia) to deflate their confidence going into the World Cup.

Another theory is that MSD is practicing batting first in all these games to test his bowlers defending a total. LOL ... bowlers will be the perfect scapegoats and batsmen will hide the ignominy of elimination from the cup under that pretext.