The Test match in question was played between August 7 and 9 under a dark sky, amidst continuous rain interruptions. By the time India reached Manchester, the series was tied 1-1 after India won the second Test at Lord's and lost the next.
The match started a little late because of overnight rain and morning drizzle. In spite of the rain, the pitch was dry, devoid of grass and looked like a piece of crisp biscuit, almost perfect to bat on.
Naturally, when Dhoni won the toss, he opted to bat. Guess what England captain Alastair
Cook said on losing the toss?
"We would have also liked to bat first on this pitch."
Cook said on losing the toss?
"We would have also liked to bat first on this pitch."
So, what is Dev trying to tell us? That Dhoni deliberately batted first on a pitch even England would have loved to bat on?
We don't know what transpired at the team meeting. Only Dhoni can tell us if the unanimous decision was to field first. But the decision to bat first was based on cricketing logic.
India were playing two spinners--Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin--in the match. Dhoni must have been hoping that they will take advantage of cracks in a dry track in the fourth innings of the match.
But his plan backfired within minutes when India lost four wickets for just eight runs. M Vijay 0, Gautam Gambhir 4, Cheteshwar Pujara 0, Virat Kohli 0, were back in the hut within five overs.
India recovered from the disastrous start and went on to score 152 runs. This was mainly because Dhoni scored 72 and stayed right till the end--his was the ninth wicket to fall. He fell in a bid to score some quick runs as he ran out of partners.
The drama in the second innings was almost similar. After England scored 367, Indian batsmen kept the dressing room door revolving with their quick return to the pavilion. Dhoni walked in when India were already 4-61, he scored 27 as wickets kept falling. India were all out for all out for 161, losing by an innings.
Two things are clear from the scorecard: If Dhoni was really betting on India losing the match, he was trying his best not to lose the Test but whatever money he -- or the bookies he may have been allegedly helping -- had wagered. And, if the match was fixed, the entire Indian team was complicit. Could Dhoni have co-opted Gambhir (returning after a gap of 18 months), Vijay (trying to seal his place in the team), Pujara, Rahane (a rookie on the circuit) and Kohli? If he somehow managed to buy the entire team, Dhoni must be credited with turning Indian team into an Ocean's Eleven.
India wins : Dhoni is very lucky
India wins : Dhoni is very lucky
India looses : Dhoni - worst captain ever
Continuous wins for India : Opposition not in form.
Common Dhoni haters you cannot blame him for just anything !
Source :- quora.com
