Almost impossible to stop the likes of Chris Gayle & AB de Villiers when in full flow: MS Dhoni
Indian skipper MS Dhoni has said that there is very little a captain can do when players like Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers get going and start hitting sixes on a regular basis, ahead of India’s World Cup clash against West Indies on Friday. Gayle made a record-breaking 215 against Zimbabwe at the Manuka Oval in Canberra last Tuesday while AB de Villiers came to the party with a dazzling innings of 162 from 66 balls against West Indies on Friday.
"Frankly speaking, you can't do much because if the individual is hitting sixes as you can't have fields for it. More often than not, you'll lose the battle of short-pitched deliveries, if they hit you off the short-pitch stuff also. There's not much you can do," Dhoni said.
Taking half-chances crucial: Dhoni
The 33-year-old added that grasping the half-chances become even more critical when the likes of Gayle & AB are at the crease and added that it is up to the bowlers to take the initiative in such scenarios.
"That's where I feel the bowler will have to take that extra initiative and they have to be backed well by the fielders because if you have a 50/50 opportunity and if you grab that, it will really ease up the pressure from the fast bowlers or the spinners. I think as a unit you have to hunt in pack.
"You look to bluff the batsman a bit. I believe that gives liberty to the bowlers to try a few other things if a batsman like Chris Gayle or AB de Villiers gets going. Apart from that, you don't have a fixed plan as to if you do this, this will happen," the 2011 World Cup-winning captain said.