India overdependent on Virat Kohli? - 'Stats don't reflect exact scenario', says MS Dhoni

Ranchi, Oct 27: For many, India's run chase fails if Virat Kohli falters with the bat. But captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni doesn't think so after the latest defeat batting second in the 4th One Day International against New Zealand here last night (October 26).

4th ODI match report; Who will field for me?, asks Dhoni

Chasing 261, India were bowled out for 241 by the Kiwis on Wednesday night. Kohli scored 45. Ajinkya Rahane top-scored with 57. (Kohli equals Tendulkar's record)

The five-match series is now tied at 2-2 and the decider will be played in Visakhapatnam on Saturday (October 29).

India's 2 victories (both batting second) have been aided by Kohli's batting. In the 1st ODI he scored 85 not out and in the 3rd game he hit a magnificent 154 not out.

In the other 2 contests where India failed to chase down a target, Kohli was dismissed for 9 (Delhi) and 45 (Ranchi).

After the match in Ranchi, Dhoni was asked whether the team was depending too much on Kohli while batting second. And the captain said it was not the case and added that "stats don't reflect the exact scenario".

"It is not like that (overdependent on Kohli). In the last one to one-and-half years we have not played a lot of ODI cricket. In between we had 3 games where we played (against) Zimbabwe. It is very difficult. I say the stats don't reflect the exact scenario," Dhoni told reporters.

"Also in that period I have batted at different positions. When I went into bat, our top order had batted brilliantly. Everything was very different. In this series, couple of games, the wicket was on the slower side. We have got quite a few batsmen who can do the job. We have to give them more time," he added.

Kohli recently equalled Sachin Tendulkar's record of 14 hundreds in successfull run chases. Overall, he has 16 tons while batting second in ODIs.

OneIndia News