Virat Kohli has a better technique than MS Dhoni at number three: Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan, the former Indian cricketer, reckons that Virat Kohli has a better technique than MS Dhoni when it’s about batting at the number three slot. Earlier, Gautam Gambhir, another retired Indian felt that Dhoni could have been a different player had he batted at number three. Irfan’s comments didn’t coincide with Irfan’s words for the legendary cricketer.

Interestingly, Dhoni has a stupendous ODI average of 82.75 at three, scoring 993 runs from 17 matches. His top score of an unbeaten 183 came against Sri Lanka in 2005 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. In fact, his maiden ODI century versus Pakistan in Vizag was at three itself.

Taking away from MS Dhoni, says Pathan

“But MS had all the chance to bat at No. 3, he didn’t. Look, I really believe that if you compare Virat and Mahendra Singh Dhoni batting at No. 3, I still feel Virat has a better technique,” Pathan was quoted as saying on Star Sports’ Show Cricket Connected.

“There’s nothing that I am taking away from Mahendra Singh Dhoni, obviously he has been an absolute legend of the game. Everyone has their own opinion. I will still take Virat any day,” Pathan added.

Dhoni batted at that position for the last time in 2009 against Sri Lanka in Rajkot. At three, he also got a few scores in the 80s and 90s. From there on, he mostly came in at number five and six, and became one of the best finishers for the Men in Blue.

In 350 matches, the Jharkhand-born has 10,773 runs at 50.57 with 10 centuries. Even his style of play changed. From being brash and carefree, he became responsible, especially after being made the skipper of the Indian national team.

As far as Virat is concerned, he is currently Team India’s rock at number three, having churned out runs with sheer authority. He started as a batsman, who came at the middle-order, but in 2010, he got 91* against Bangladesh in Dhaka and he hasn’t looked back. At three, Virat has scored 9,751 runs in 187 matches at an average of 62.90 with 36 centuries to show for his efforts.