CWC 2015: India vs Ireland - Best MS Dhoni comments caught on stump microphone

MS Dhoni’s position behind the wickets gives him the best view of the entire ground. As a captain and a wicket-keeper, he’s able to see how the batsman is shaping up for his shots, follow any weaknesses and judge what his bowlers may do differently to bring about a dismissal.Against Ireland on Tuesday, Dhoni was at his vocal and tactical best. Having seen his fast bowlers leak runs at the start, he did what he does so often and so effectively in the ODIs – bring his spinners to the game and squeeze the flow of runs, pressuring the batsmen into giving away their wickets.And when he is in this mode, he wants the entire machinery to work together. He wants his fielders to be on their toes, anticipating where the batsman is going to play his shot, wants them to throw better and field better. He’s not satisfied with half-hearted efforts and keeps telling his bowlers what line and length to bowl to the batsmen.On a rare day, when the stadium isn’t jam packed with supporters and you can actually hear the conversation in the middle over the stump microphone, it is fascinating to watch the plan unfold in front of your eyes, learning the street smart ways of a captain who knows how to get the best out of his troops.Here are a few quips from Dhoni during the Ireland innings which allow us to view a brilliant cricketing mind:

#1 The mind behind Jadeja\'s bowling

When Jadeja bowls, almost the entire bowling plan is hatched behind the stumps by this man

The first ball of Jadeja’s 3rd over is short (14th of the innings), with plenty of room to cut for William Porterfield. He duly dispatches it to the boundary. The next ball too is short but directed at the stumps. Porterfield plays it back to the bowler. The third is nudged for a single.

Now on the fourth ball, Jadeja bowls a full and slow ball to Paul stirling, who defends it.

Dhoni claps, and says, “Aage se maarne de” [Translation: Let him hit it off the front foot]. He’s urging Jadeja to bowl full and not let the batsmen play off the back foot.

Next ball, Jadeja drops it short again, and Stirling rocks back to pull it over the midwicket boundary for a six! That’s the last over of Jadeja’s first spell. Dhoni replaces him with Raina.

#2 Rayudu gets a piece of Dhoni\'s mind

Ambati Rayudu came on as a substitute fielder and quickly was told off by Dhoni for his slow fielding

Raina’s bowling the 29th over of the innings. Porterfield, batting on 64, is crammed for room and plays it towards substitute fielder Ambati Rayudu in the cover region.

Dhoni: “Rayudu, jaag ke zara. Iska paer dekh kaise hil raha hai. Uske hisaab se anticipate kar. Volleyball ki tarah khada hua hai beech mein” [Translation: Rayudu, wake up. Watch his feet movement and anticipate where he’s going to hit. Don’t keep standing in the middle like a Volleyball game.]

Rayudu was a tad late in responding to the shot, though no run was taken by the batsmen. Dhoni’s imploring him to react more quickly to the batsman’s movement and get in position early to stop the ball.

#3 Dhoni\'s chakravyuh

Ed Joyce was bowled by Suresh Raina, but the way Dhoni read his game was remarkabel

After a breezy start, Ashwin has just provided India the first breakthrough and Ed Joyce, the centurion in Ireland’s last game against Zimbabwe, walks in.

Raina comes in to bowl his second over of the spell and bowls the first one quick onto the stumps. Joyce plays it towards Ajinkya Rahane in the covers.

Dhoni shouts: “Halka peeche reh sakta hai Jinx, ye dheere nahi khelta” [Translation: You can stand a bit behind Jinx (Ajinkya), he doesn’t nudge the ball softly.]

Next ball, Raina bowls a touch shorter, directed at the stumps. Almost on cue, Joyce tries to cut, misses and his middle stump is pegged back.

Dhoni read Joyce’s game perfectly, knowing well that he’s not someone who likes to nudge the ball around, and would play the cut shot or drive hard. It could also have been a message to Raina to bowl a bit shorter, but since he directed this advice to Ajinkya, that seems unlikely.

#4 Watching the batsman closely

Dhoni’s position behind the batsman gives him a unique view of how the player is shaping up to play a shot

Ashwin is bowling the 21st over of the innings. He bowls a loopy delivery to Porterfield, who’s almost made up his mind to take the aerial route. However, unsure about the delivery, he manages to block with a late adjustment.

Dhoni’s seen him take the attacking stance though, and tells his fielder, “Ye upar se dekh raha hai. Halka upar rehna, tere paas aa sakta hai” [Translation: He’s trying to hit it over the top. Be ready, he can hit it towards you.]

Porterfield remains on the non-strike for the next 4 balls, and punches the last ball to extra cover. No damage done in the over.

#5 The DRS call

When Dhoni reminded Raina being hopeful isn’t enough to go for a DRS review

31st over of the innings, Raina’s bowling and Dhoni has just missed a stumping of Porterfield. Two balls later, Niall O’Brien misjudges the length and is struck outside the line of the off-stump.

Both Dhoni and Raina go up in appeal, and the bowler probably contemplates a review. Dhoni wryly says, “Line mein lagi ho tab batana”. [Translation: Tell me when the impact is in line with the stumps.]

Dhoni took the correct call to not review that appeal, but a few overs later, is convinced by Raina, erroneously, to go for a DRS challenge. The captain probably would have less faith in Raina when it comes to DRS in coming matches.