Ganguly cannot understand why Dhoni chooses to come in at number six

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has announced that the national team’s lack of positivity while batting cost them the ODI series against arch-rivals Pakistan.

Ganguly questioned why India had not taken a more attacking approach against the Pakistani spinners, especially since the new International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI rules only allow four players outside the 30-yard circle during non-designated powerplay overs.

“The Pakistan spinners were exemplary, but what surprised me was the lack of intent to attack on part of the Indian batting,” Ganguly said. “They should have played more positively. They came with the mindset that 250 is not a big score, so bat 50 overs and win.

“Though the Pakistan bowlers bowled better than they have done [at any other time], it is important to play every ball on merit and the Indians just went into their shell. They looked like a batting unit short on confidence.”

Throughout the ODI series, the Indian batting line-up constantly collapsed, leaving only captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to pile on as many runs as he could before he ran out of partners.

Having been recognised as one of the most talented batsmen in ODI cricket, Ganguly could not get his head around the idea of Dhoni coming in at number six.

“Dhoni continued to bat lower down; he was the man in form and in such situations [with the team struggling] it’s important that the man in form or the captain stands up,” Ganguly said. “He played superbly in Chennai and I still don’t understand the reason why he has to bat at 29 for 5 or 70 for 4, rather than going in at 40 for 1. It really baffles me, somebody so gifted under-using his talent.”