Suresh Raina gives his views on MS Dhoni's ideal batting position in the World Cup 2019

MS Dhoni has inarguably attained the moniker of ‘the best finisher in ODI cricket’, leaving Australia’s Michael Bevan behind. He has finished innumerable matches for the Indian team in the past including the most famous of them all, the 2011 World Cup final, where he remained unbeaten on 91 and finished the match with a six to make Indian team the World Champions for the second time.

Dhoni has been famous for taking the chase right down to the last over, putting immense pressure on the bowling team to either get him out to win the match or face the possibility of a last over defeat. And in the end, most of the times, the veteran has finished the match successfully in the last over, preferably with a six.

MS Dhoni’s batting position in the World Cup

MS Dhoni will be playing in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019 in England and Wales and everyone is speculating his batting position, given that his hitting prowess has dwindled with time and he has become more of an accumulator than a big hitting finisher.

The 37-year-old has played 340 ODIs and scored more than 10,000 runs at an average of just under 51. There has been a fair amount of debate on his batting position with many believing that he should bat at the number four spot.

Suresh Raina gives his opinion

However, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni’s former teammate, begs to differ and has said that the ideal place for him to bat will be the no.5 or no.6 position in the XI. He said, “For MS, the ideal position would be number five or six. I think number three or four should be good (for Kohli). If the top order topples quickly, we need someone like Kohli to keep it together.”

The left-hander also said that for him the most balanced team will lift the World Cup 2019 trophy in England since despite helping the seamers, the English conditions have become helpful to spinners as well, given that England themselves, play two spinners in their playing XI.

“Last year when I was playing against Ireland and England, our wrist spinners did really well. Team India is shaping up really well in this regard, a healthy mix of youth and experience. And a pace attack that is bowling beautifully in all conditions. No grey areas as such,” he further added while speaking to India Today.

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