Sanjay Manjrekar asks fans to not expect much from 'batsman' MS Dhoni

The Indian team once again proved that they are the Asian champions. But one will have to worry about them with the larger picture in mind. World Cup is approaching fast and the middle-order of the Men in Blue is clearly untested. More than anything, MS Dhoni’s position in the batting order is also being argued. His form with the bat has continued to be poor which is why Sanjay Manjrekar has asked the fans to tone down their expectations from him now.

While he was at his usual best behind the wickets affecting quickfire stumpings, Dhoni clearly struggled with the bat. He could only muster 77 runs in four innings including a duck against Hong Kong. The veteran had a great chance to revive himself in the final with a match-winning inning. But he got out at the wrong time and India almost botched up the chase only to win the match off the final ball.

Dhoni is not the world-beater

Sanjay Manjrekar, while speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, requested the fans to admit the fact that MS Dhoni is not the world’s best finisher with the bat now. He also opined that he is one of the best wicketkeepers in the world and adds value to the team but it would be wrong to expect anything miraculous from him with the willow.

“Absolutely but I have always said that at this stage Dhoni is not the world-beater that he was. Just bat him down the order, in Asia Cup final he should not have come ahead of Kedar Jadhav. Kedar is an in-form batsman, a pure batsman. Tone down your expectations from Dhoni the batsman,” the former Indian cricketer said.

However, Manjrekar was keen to mention that the veteran will play the World Cup only to be around Virat Kohli the actual captain of the team. “He (Dhoni) is a good keeper stumping everything that comes his way, a reliable keeper. Virat Kohli needs a person around him, World Cup pressure around him, a man with all the experience but his batting is clearly a problem and if India have an exciting option to replace Dhoni then they should start looking at it,” he added.

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