Here is how Dhoni”s cricketing brain dismissed Pollard in the IPL 10 final :- MS Dhoni has got a gem of a cricketing brain. And he proved it once again!
Mumbai Indians won the toss in all important final and chose to bat. They were under the pump straightaway when they lost early wickets. At 56/4 Mumbai Indians” innings was in tatters but in came the most destructive batsman Kieron Pollard.
Pollard has a history of rescuing Mumbai when they are in trouble and played a pivotal role in 2013 final when they beat CSK. It was very important to get him out before he got set. The first ball he faced was dispatched over long off fence for a towering six. He was willing to go right from the outset.
MS Dhoni then signalled Smith to bring long on very straight. He knows Pollard likes to hit straight. And guess what? The next ball Pollard hit went straight down the throat of straight long on, the same place where Dhoni had instructed Smith to place the fielder!!
It was a genius piece of move which turned out to be a masterstroke. The wicket has to be credited to Dhoni”s name rather than bowler”s name.
Watch Here:-
https://twitter.com/7asSumit/status/866326674387771392
If we turn the clock back to 2010 final between Mumbai and CSK, Dhoni had used the same tactic against Pollard. Pollard was on fire blazing his way to 27 off just 9 balls. In the 19th over of the innings, Dhoni brought the mid off very straight when 27 were needed off 7 balls. Pollard hit the ball very straight and was caught by Matthew Hayden at mid off. The tactic had worked and Chennai won the IPL title.
MS Dhoni”s ability to understand game situation and read opponent”s mind is second to none!
