MS Dhoni is to India what Eoin Morgan is to England: Dinesh Karthik

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik drew an analogy between MS Dhoni and Eoin Morgan. Karthik stated that Morgan’s value for his team England is exactly what Dhoni’s was to India.

Karthik’s comment came after England secured their fourth successive victory in the Super12 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup. Morgan-led England defeated Sri Lanka on November 1 by 26 runs to knock them out while sealing their own semi-final berth.

“MS DHONI is to India what EOIN MORGAN is to England. Well-led @Eoin16. Brilliant yesterday. The team to beat this World T20 is @ECB_cricket,” tweeted Karthik.

Morgan’s inspirational leadership has taken England to heights in the shortest format, as they occupy the No. 1 spot in the ICC rankings. While Morgan has endured a low run with the bat, he has continued to marshal England inspirationally, with them looking on track to back their 2019 ODI World Cup glory with another title this year.

Against Sri Lanka, England has Jos Buttler to thank who notched up his maiden ton in the format (unbeaten 101 off 67) to take his team to a fighting total of 163/4 after Sri Lanka had reduced them to 36/3 in the powerplay. Buttler was well-assisted by Morgan (40 off 36) who added 112 with him off just 78 balls for the fourth wicket before falling to Wanindu Hasaranga.

Morgan’s ability to embrace the challenges was again on the front when England lost Tymal Mills in the middle of the match after he pulled a muscle and left the field, leaving his team a death bowler short. However, Morgan used Liam Livingstone and Chris Woakes to fill in for Mills.

Sri Lanka were teetering at 76/5 at one stage before Hasaranga and Dasun Shanaka’s 53-run stand brought them back into force. However, once Livingstone removed Hasaranga and Buttler ran Shanaka out, Chris Jordan and Moeen Ali wiped the tail to dismiss Sri Lanka for 137 from 129/5.

“I think staying patient was the key (when England lost early wickets), but I managed to get a partnership with Morgan. I found it really tough early on in the innings. There was a point when we were thinking to get to the 120-run mark, but then we got going and got 160-plus.,” said Buttler after the game ended.

M S DHONI is to India what EOIN MORGAN is to England

Well led @Eoin16 . Brilliant yesterday . The team to beat this World T20 is @ECB_cricket #WorldT20 #CricketTwitter

— DK (@DineshKarthik) November 2, 2021