MS Dhoni fans criticize Sachin Tendulkar for his ‘lack of intent’ statement

The social media doesn’t even spare the ‘God of Cricket’. Days after former India captain Sachin Tendulkar expressed his dissatisfaction with MS Dhoni’s slow batting against Afghanistan in a World Cup match in Southampton on June 22. The wicketkeeper-batsman’s fans gave it back to the maestro. Soon after, it was a full-blown war between the fans of India’s two big cricketing superstars.

Dhoni faced the flak for scoring 28 runs against 52 balls against the bottom-ranked team in the World Cup, thereby pegging back the Men in Blue. A less-than-run-a-ball scoring rate in the slog overs saw India finishing with only 224 for 8 in 5o overs. It was only a brilliant comeback from the Indian bowlers that the target proved to be too much for the Afghanistan batters and Virat Kohli’s men won by 11 runs.

Former cricketers like Tendulkar and Shoaib Akhtar took a dig at Dhoni’s slow knock – something which plagued his batting for several months till last year. Tendulkar advised Dhoni to show a positive intent while batting and also criticised him saying he had not taken charge of the batting during his slow partnership with Kedar Jadhav since the latter was not tested much in the tournament.

“I felt slightly disappointed, it could have been much better. I was also not happy with the partnership between Kedar and Dhoni, it was very slow. We batted 34 overs of spin bowling and scored 119 runs,” the 46-year-old Tendulkar had said.

Dhoni fans taunt Tendulkar; Sachin fans hit back

Fans of India’s World Cup-winning captain were not convinced with Tendulkar’s viewpoint and they took to Twitter to target him. Some taunted Tendulkar asking whether he was a big hitter during his playing days while others alleged that he had only played for himself in his career. At this, Tendulkar’s fans also stepped in to defend their hero.

The 46-year-old was a member of the Indian squad led by Dhoni which had gone on to win the World Cup in 2011. While Tendulkar has scaled mountains of runs as a batsman, Dhoni has won all major tournaments that the cricket world has to offer as the skipper. He is the only captain the world to have won world titles in both 50 and 20 overs.

Also check out – World Cup 2019: Former cricketer, coach Anshuman Gaekwad wants Kedar Jadhav at No.4

Here are some tweets that showed how the fight between fans of Tendulkar and Dhoni had intensified:

Sachin (about Dhoni): He did not show any positive intent against Afghanistan

Dhoni: Are you talking about the positive intent which you used to show in your 90s..

— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) June 24, 2019

The same man that won you the World Cup which you couldn’t win in your whole career with one of the best Indian players around. Sachin acting like he was some big hitter, man used to struggle in his 90s. Someone should pull up his strike rate when he’s been in the 90s????????‍♂️ #Dhoni???? pic.twitter.com/hCVQ5aBI9h

— Nim (@Nirmal_A) June 24, 2019

Sachin couldnt even win a IPL trophy, such a big player he was.

Dhoni won WCT20, WC50, Champions trophy & forget about all the IPLs he won. Such is the contribution of Dhoni to Indian Cricket.

— Voice of Assam (@VoiceOfAxom) June 25, 2019

Sachin Runs in 2003 and 2011 Worldcup finals combined : 22 Runs

Dhoni’s Runs in one Worldcup final:91 Runs

???? ???? ???????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/rpE0yo5jc9

— Mr.Mamz (@vjfansalem) June 25, 2019

Dhoni: Let me know when sachin come to bat..

Sachin: Dhoni is the best captain I’ve played under..

Dhoni: Sachin was like God to all of us while growing up..

Sachin: Dhoni reminds me of my father..

Their fans* pic.twitter.com/BZrwY4NmCw

— Gaurav (@_iamgrv) June 25, 2019

Pic 1 : Sachin about missing his 200

Pic 2 : Dhoni about missing his 100

One said disappointed and upset for missing his miletone.

The other said it’s doesn’t matter for him whether he get 100 or not. pic.twitter.com/79Rnd816g3

— #theCSKguy (@whistIepodu) June 24, 2019

@sachin_rt i thought that you forgot your own innings vs Bangladesh 100th century you played very bad innings…..so that Bangladesh won the match easily pic.twitter.com/HtBuspbQMy

— Sarkar Ajesh (@AjeshChris) June 24, 2019

Look who talking about strike rate #Sachin #Dhoni pic.twitter.com/kg8kCvF6nw

— karnsolanki8 (@karnsolanki8) June 25, 2019

As a professional cricket player, he knows how to play and how to win the match. He is a international player.
So no one have a rights to ask him a question…. He is playing more than 15 years of cricket. Sachin should have been criticise whole team instead of Dhoni????#Dhoni pic.twitter.com/toqu8NsnZi

— ????Keerthy Sathana???? (@keerthysathana) June 25, 2019

@sachin_rt if ut wasnt for Dhoni’s intent in this match we would have lost miserably. If it wasnt for your contract retaining intent we would have won this match. Dont be little Little Master. #ShutupSachin pic.twitter.com/gjaXijqRVh

— Nirmal (@NirmalVicknesh) June 24, 2019

Dhoni playing for his team and that Sachin only playing for his career #Sachin

— Yogesh (@Yogesh06364044) June 25, 2019