MS Dhoni is my favourite batting partner in white-ball cricket: Gautam Gambhir

Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir recently named MS Dhoni as his favourite batting partner in white-ball cricket. Notably, the duo stitched a crucial partnership for India in the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka, which India won by six wickets. Other than that, they have a long history of playing together in multiple matches, which Gambhir remembers clearly. 

Meanwhile, Gambhir for the majority period of his international career has opened with Virender Sehwag while Dhoni used to bat somewhere in the middle order. Despite so, whenever these two used to bat together, the communication was clear as they both were sensational while running between the wickets.

“My favourite batting partner was MS Dhoni. People think that it was Virender Sehwag but I actually love playing more with Dhoni, especially in white-ball cricket. We shared big partnerships,” Gambhir was quoted as saying by Times Now.

India were not brave enough and that’s where we lost the finals: Gambhir

Gambhir meanwhile has criticised the approach of the Indian team in the finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup. The southpaw mentioned that the Men in Blue should have played an aggressive brand of cricket but ended up being too defensive in the mid-phase and ended up scoring 240 runs, which was not enough, as Australia chased it down with absolute ease.

The 42-year-old mentioned that the team wasn’t brave enough to play an aggressive brand of cricket and hence India lost the final to Australia by six wickets. He even added that it was okay for him to see India get all-out on 150 runs but playing with an attacking intent, rather than scoring 240 runs, which was never enough in modern-day cricket.

“I would have really liked if India would have gone really aggressive with top 6-7 batters, irrespective of them getting bundled out for 150 runs. I would have been fine. However, if you think you can defend 240 runs or fight for it.. In World Cup final you don’t fight. Either we go 150 all out or we go 300, that is the approach I would have liked,” Gambhir said.

“Probably Rohit should have sent that message ahead of the game that even if he gets out early, others should continue in an aggressive manner. Virat has a role, which is to anchor from one end but rest others go hard,” Gambhir added.