Captain MS Dhoni wants 'harsh' ODI rules to change

Melbourne, March 27: A staunch critic of the ICC's four-fielder theory which has led to regular run-riots in one-dayers, India cricket captain MS Dhoni feels the current rule should be changed as it heavily favours batsmen.

Full text of Dhoni speaking on WC journey

With lack of a seamer-all-rounder, Dhoni's struggle was evident yesterday when his fifth bowler - left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja - failed to check the flow of runs in the lost World Cup semifinal against South Africa.

Dhoni has time and again made it clear that India's bowling has been affected by this rule of not having more than four fielders outside the 30-yard circle.

"It's my personal opinion, I would like them to change it. In the history of cricket, we have not seen double hundreds in ODIs and now in three years' time you see three double hundreds (actual number is six) being scored," the Indian captain said.

From India only, there are four double hundreds in ODIs with Rohit Sharma being the owner of two, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag having one each. Among others, Chris Gayle and Martin Guptill have scored a double ton each.

"A lot of people might say that a lot of dot balls that are being bowled because of that extra fielder inside. If that's the case (logic), rather than having the option of keeping fielders outside, you might as well bring all 11 inside the circle to have more dot balls," Dhoni said taking a dig at the ICC rule with straight face.

For someone who enthralled the crowd with his batting pyrotechnics, Dhoni doesn't want ODIs to be a game of fours and sixes which can make it "boring".

'Rules are slightly harsh'

"We have to see. Let's not make 50-over game like a T20 game because I feel even a lot of sixes and a lot of fours also makes it very boring.

"The main essence of ODI cricket is how you bat from the 15th over onwards until maybe the 35th over. The first 10 and the last 10 doesn't matter as it's more like a T20, but the real essence of ODI cricket is how you bat in the middle overs," the skipper expressed his concern.

Dhoni didn't take a backward step while calling the rule a "harsh" one. "I feel the rules are slightly harsh. Maybe slightly more harsh on the spinners, who like to deceive the batsmen with their flight or perhaps like to challenge them. Now you have these all batsmen playing sweeps, reverse sweeps and all these different shots, and they have an advantage.

"But you want power to dominate because that has been ODI cricket more than the soft touches and all. You have the option as a captain; if you like this rule, you can bring the fielder inside," Dhoni gave a solution.

PTI