Dhoni breaks down the chase method
After leading India to a six-wicket win against Zimbabwe in the final group match of the World Cup, MS Dhoni said that breaking the target down into smaller goals was the key in handling high-pressure situations
ODI rules encouraging innovative batsmen - Dhoni
MS Dhoni has pointed out several times in the past that the new ODI rules, which allow only two fielders outside the 30-yard circle in the mandatory Powerplay and employ two balls, are very hard on the bowlers. He did the same after India's win against Zimbabwe.
"What's important is, when there's one [extra] player outside, you might mis-time one in the whole innings, maybe at the start of your innings, and it's that deep-point fielder who takes that catch. But now with him not being there a few are mis-timed, a few drop here and there, and all of a sudden you see a batsman timing a lot of deliveries. Plus, two new balls, they don't really get old enough for reverse-swing. So these are all the difficulties that the bowlers are facing."
He said these rules have also taken the emphasis off the power-hitters at the end, and brought the innovative player into the spotlight instead. "A lot of innovations have come into the game. You need to credit those players who play those kind of shots, but also you have to push those players who have that power game.
"That was a key ingredient in the last World Cup, to have people who can clear the big boundaries. But now what has happened is a lot of successful batsmen in the last few overs are the ones who are more innovative, you know playing the reverse sweep to the fast bowler, playing the slog sweep and all of that."
Nikita Bastian is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo