Mohammad Kaif opines that if the leftarm seamer Yash Dayal bowls to MS Dhoni in the crucial stage of the Chennai Super Kings IPL 2024 clash against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru Dhoni will dominate. The faceoff is scheduled at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday May 18.
A win for CSK will secure their place in the playoffs. However, a convincing win for RCB might enable them overtake Ruturaj Gaikwad and colleagues for the last playoff spot.
During a conversation on Star Sports, Kaif was asked about the bowlers that RCB may possibly use against MS Dhoni in the death.
“That is the weak area for RCB, that who will you bowl at the death? They brought Yash Dayal, who bowls back-of-the-hand slower ones. MS Dhoni will like his speed a lot. If you bowl at a speed of 125 to 130 kph, he won’t spare you. I am giving you that guarantee.”
Mohammad Kaif
The former India batsman believes Mohammed Siraj is a better option than Yash Dayal at the end and that seamers should avoid bowling yorkers to the CSK wicketkeeper-batsman.
“(Mohammed) Siraj has speed. He comes running in. 130 kph bowlers will not work against Dhoni. You need balls to be bowled at 140-145 kph and don’t bowl yorkers. He remains ready for the yorker. We have spoken about the short ball, bowl the slower ones, and keep it away.”
Mohammad Kaif
Dhoni hammered 136 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 226.66 in 10 IPL 2024 innings. He only got out twice with one being a runout hitting 11 boundaries and clearing the ropes 12 times.
Mohammad Kaif Doubts Karn Sharma’s Effectiveness Against MS Dhoni
Mohammad Kaif also recommended the RCB not to field Karn Sharma at the death against MS Dhoni.
“Some teams have started using the spin option. They are bringing Rashid Khan or Rahul Chahar in the 19th or 20th over in front of Dhoni. The tactic has worked to a certain extent but I believe Karn Sharma won’t be able to do that job. Karn Sharma’s problem is that he wasn’t given chances to play regularly earlier.”
“He will be under pressure that he is unable to make his place in the XI. He has bowled well in the last few matches but don’t give the 19th or 20th over to Karn Sharma. He will be under pressure and Dhoni will dominate. He can hit five or six sixes in an over. Only proper bowlers who are in rhythm and have confidence and form can save you from Dhoni’s havoc.”
Mohammad Kaif
Rahul Chahar surrendered only two runs off the four balls he delivered to Dhoni in CSK’s last over against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Chennai. Dhoni hammered Rashid Khan for two sixes and a four in the final over of Gujarat Titans (GT)’s home game against CSK.