T20 bowling is more about knowing what not to bowl rather than what to bowl.
We are entering a stage in this IPL where the pitches are now making you want to lose the toss because it is still a big move to bet against the dew and bat first but, at the same time, it is getting more and more difficult to bat when chasing.
It doesn’t matter how many you get on the board – once big-hitters get on a roll, nothing is enough.
In about three minutes of chatting with Star Sports, MS Dhoni delivered these lessons in his own inimitable style. And who knows what other wisdom lay undeciphered?
“I feel we played a perfect game today,” Dhoni said at the post-match presentation, after his team thrashed Delhi Capitals by 91 runs. “I don’t know how many times we would have been in a position [this season] to say that we had a perfect game.
“The batters did really well. This is one of those tosses where you want to win the toss and you want to field first but in your heart you are also saying never mind if you lose the loss. Because the last game also that we played the ball actually stops a bit even in the second half. It only gets better after the 13th-14th over onwards. Which means you still have to behave and bat a bit nicely [even in the chase].
“The batters gave us those extra few runs than whatever the par [score] was. The way the openers batted and after that everybody contributed a bit. Overall runs on the board really helps. Then making sure the big-hitters don’t go after you. It doesn’t matter if you get 200 or 210, once they get going, you can’t save the game.”
“What is good to see is they have the capability. What is important is the more they play the better they will get at game sense. Game sense is something that is very crucial. Yes you have the talent, you have the variation but ultimately it is reading, ‘Okay what is a good delivery to bowl? What is a good delivery not to bowl?’ I feel often in T20 cricket, what’s more important is to know what is not a good delivery to bowl. Because that’s what puts extra pressure on you if you go for runs. If you go for runs, that actually affects your confidence.”
In setting up the game, Dhoni himself scored 21 runs off eight; walking in in the 18th over, here was a match situation which required him to go for the big hits straightaway. “The first ball was to see what really is happening,” Dhoni joked. “It’s something that I don’t really like: going and straightaway hitting. When you go around 13th-14th over onwards, if they bowl short or length, you can tap it down, see the pace of the wicket. But if it is only 12 deliveries left, all your batters start going up. They start going after the six. It puts extra pressure on the batter.
“I feel as a team that is something we have not done very well this season. When there is only 12 or 13 deliveries left, few of us who are batting, if we can contribute a two-ball eight or six runs … there is runs on the board. But what we have failed in, if we play two deliveries [to have a sighter], [then] you get out, you have scored four runs off two deliveries or three deliveries, that doesn’t really help the score.”
“Just turn up for your games, plan well, execute your plans, look to win the game, and enjoy the rest of the IPL matches. You don’t want to be under pressure when two other franchises are playing. Enjoy the IPL, it is good.
“If it happens, it happens, but what is more important is to make the most of the three [remaining] games. See what are the combinations we can feature in what positions. And start planning for the next year. If we qualify for the playoffs, it is very good. But if not, it’s not the end of the world.”
Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo