MS Dhoni more calculative today, used to hit 6s off Muralitharan at will before: R Ashwin

Former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni is arguably one of best finishers sport has ever seen. MS Dhoni has batted lower down order for  majority of his career. His numbers while coming to bat in at . 5 and 6 are staggering. MS Dhoni had an explosive start to his career as he scored a brilliant 148 against Pakistan in an ODI batting at .3 position.

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R Ashwin reveals how MS Dhoni used to hit long sixes off Muttiah Muralitharan 

CSK captain n went on score ar stunning hundred at that position a few months later when he scored 183 against Sri Lanka. Despite playing such sensational kcks at top of order, MS Dhoni was shifted to  lower-middle order and was given job of a dedicated finisher. Since n he has donned finisher's role for India as well as Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

MS Dhoni who used to initially play in an aggressive way turned into a responsible and a calculated batsman after being appointed captain. Recently, former CSK spinner R Ashwin opened up on MS Dhoni's evolution from a carefree batsman to a calculated finisher. While speaking on ‘Cricbuzz in Conversation’, hosted by Harsha Bhogle, R Ashwin recalled  time when MS Dhoni would bat in nets against him and Muttiah Muralitharan. legendary Sri Lankan spinner was part of CSK team for three seasons.

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R Ashwin said that he would be waiting in queue at MA Chidambaram stadium where re was a net behind stadium and one where y practice right next to match turf. He added that MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina always batted at centre. R Ashwin also revealed how queuing up to bowl to m at centre was some sort of a yardstick as y didn’t always get to do that. He said that when he did that for first time, he was bowling alongside Muttiah Muralitharan.

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R Ashwin furr said that every time Murali bowled to MS Dhoni, he hit ball long. Ashwin even said that MS Dhoni of today is a lot more calculated but he had seen him back n where he used to whack every single ball. He even said that every time Murali dragged length back, Dhoni hit it farr. re were at least 5-6 balls that scaled roof of MA Chidambaram stadium. Ashwin reckoned that he hadn’t seen anybody hit ball that far and that was very new in that era as hitting sixes was something y weren’t taught as youngsters.

After playing for CSK from 2009 till 2015, Ashwin had to move to w-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant when CSK was banned for two years. In 2018, Ashwin was bought by Kings XI Punjab where captained m for two seasons and after moderate results, he made a move to Delhi Capitals.

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IM COURTESY: IPLT20.COM