MS Dhoni backs http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RG-Sharma-c2309 as an opener – Cricket News
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Champions Trophy 2013 and feels that the right-hander has a chance to cement his place in the team as an opening batsman.
Sharma is originally a middle-order batsman; however, he has been asked to open the innings in the all-important tournament in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 has lived up to the expectations, providing his team the much needed
stability at the top of the order along with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/S-Dhawan-c2392.
While expressing his views about Sharma’s prospects of retaining his position in the side as an opener, Dhoni said that the talented player is extremely good on the back-foot strokes, which is a rare quality in the batsmen from
the sub-continent. This is the reason why the wicketkeeper/batsman believes that the Mumbai Indians’ captain can become a permanent opener in the shorter formats of the game.
Dhoni justified his strategy to open with a non-regular by saying that England also open with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/IR-Bell-c1597, who is primarily a middle-order batsman like Sharma.
“He's someone who can do the job well for us, and also the fact that he's someone who is really talented, and that's the only space that we have got, where we all felt that with his talent he can really capitalize and be a good
opener,” the Indian skipper said. “It's not only http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 who's using an opener who's not really an opener; even England have done that with Ian Bell.”
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Vijay-c1867, the right-handed opener, is also in India’s 15-man squad for the tournament and the captain thinks that it is a good opportunity for him to learn about the highest stage of the game.
“Having Murali Vijay as part of the side is a bonus - he gets his time with the international team and sees where he needs to improve his game,” he added.
India have already qualified for the semi-finals of the event but they will play their last group match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 today at Birmingham. Dhoni would love to beat the arch-rivals and go into the semis with a positive frame
of mind.
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