New Zealand vs India: MS Dhoni reads Trent Boult's mind even before the ball is bowled

Kuldeep changed his bowling angle then and reaped immediate rewards.

Published - 23 Jan 2019, 12:24 IST | Updated - 23 Jan 2019, 12:24 IST

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MS Dhoni has a great understanding of the game. It is something which the veteran has developed while leading the team from behind the wickets. While his wicketkeeping skills are immaculate, Dhoni’s brilliant reading of the game was on display once again at the McLean Park in Napier in the ongoing first ODI against New Zealand. The batsman was Trent Boult and Dhoni’s guidance once again helped the chinaman Kuldeep Yadav snaffle his fourth wicket of the innings.

The incident took place in the 38th over when the Kiwis were down and out at 157/9. Tim Southee picked a single off the fifth delivery of the over in order to take the strike in the next over. MS Dhoni was well aware of the tactic as he straightaway spotted that Boult will defend the last ball even before the single was taken.

“Rokega. Ye aankh band kar ke rokega (He will definitely defend his ball),” Dhoni told Kuldeep Yadav after which he changed his angle. Moreover, Southee might have got a hint of the same and had ran all the way to the striker’s end to give some knowledge to his new ball partner.

Boult does what Dhoni already expected

Kuldeep, after bowling the entire over from over the wicket angle, just after MS Dhoni’s guidance, he opted for the around the wicket angle. The move immediately reaped him a rich reward as Trent Boult dead batted the ball as expected by the veteran behind the stumps. The wrong-un did enough to take the edge of Boult’s bat and Rohit Sharma pouched it safely in the slip.

New Zealand were bowled out for 157 runs after opting to bat first. India have lost Rohit Sharma in response but are looking set to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series with Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli batting in the middle.