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The reason behind MS Dhoni's overall strike rate in T20i's.
Sep 14 2007 
v 
Came in at number 6 after a severe batting collapse against Pakistan. India were 36/4 after 6.4 during his arrival. MS helped his team put up a decent total with the tail. India was 138/8 after his departure. It was the match which india won the bowl-out.
v Came in at number 6 after a severe batting collapse against Pakistan. India were 36/4 after 6.4 during his arrival. MS helped his team put up a decent total with the tail. India was 138/8 after his departure. It was the match which india won the bowl-out.
Feb 1 2008 
v
20/4 after 3.2 when he walked in. Tried to hold the fall of wickets and played 27 balls scoring only 9 runs. His s.r dipped to 33.33 To put that in perspective, he was still the 2nd highest run scorer for India, that's how bad it was. India only scored 74 runs
v 20/4 after 3.2 when he walked in. Tried to hold the fall of wickets and played 27 balls scoring only 9 runs. His s.r dipped to 33.33 To put that in perspective, he was still the 2nd highest run scorer for India, that's how bad it was. India only scored 74 runs
Oct 29 2011 v 
India were 66/4 after 10.4. MS walked in while wickets were falling consistently on the other end. Scored 21(26) at a strike rate of 80.76. Only 2 players in the whole match had a strike rate of over 94 and he was sill the second highest scorer of that match.
v India were 66/4 after 10.4. MS walked in while wickets were falling consistently on the other end. Scored 21(26) at a strike rate of 80.76. Only 2 players in the whole match had a strike rate of over 94 and he was sill the second highest scorer of that match.
Feb 1 2012 v
Chasing a target of 172 india lost wickets at a fast pace. They were 53/4 at 7.1 overs and lost both raina and jadeja in the next few overs. Without any batsmen at the other end he was forced to play out the rest of the innings, scoring 48 (43).
v Chasing a target of 172 india lost wickets at a fast pace. They were 53/4 at 7.1 overs and lost both raina and jadeja in the next few overs. Without any batsmen at the other end he was forced to play out the rest of the innings, scoring 48 (43).
These are a few innings reflecting on the kind of role MS was playing during 2007-2013 where he had only one year scoring over 125+ strike rate with a minimum of 100+ runs. This is where he played almost half of his t20i career innings.
Post 2013 out of 6 years he has 5 40+ average and 4 130+ strike rate years.
During 2007-2013 india never had a consistent opening pair. There were many changes. Sehwag averaged under 22 while Gambhir averaged under 28 at a s.r. under 120. Resulting in many batting colapses.
During 2007-2013 india never had a consistent opening pair. There were many changes. Sehwag averaged under 22 while Gambhir averaged under 28 at a s.r. under 120. Resulting in many batting colapses.
After 2013
India found a reliable top 3 in Rohit, Dhawan, Kohli and KL in the later half. Rohit averages 30+, Kohli at 60+ while KL at 40+. All three of them strikes over 139+. This allowed MS to bat freely most of the time. Resulting in his successful t20i period.
India found a reliable top 3 in Rohit, Dhawan, Kohli and KL in the later half. Rohit averages 30+, Kohli at 60+ while KL at 40+. All three of them strikes over 139+. This allowed MS to bat freely most of the time. Resulting in his successful t20i period.
Now you could say he could've still batted like he does now during the initial stages of his t20i career. Why should other players performance affect his own? But that's not the kind of role he plays. He has always been playing an anchor role in the indian middle order.
India would've ended multiple times in the list of lowest t20 scored if it wasn't for MS. He is someone who plays according to the situation. It's not like he can't score quick runs, it's just he doesn't want to when he feels like it's not needed.
Not being able to and not willing to are totally two different things. Only those who have watched him keenly know that he's someone who's not fond of unnecessary risk. There's a reason why he has the most number of not outs in t20i's.
FIELDING 1st.
He has a total of 42 not outs in 85 inns. 20 came in while chasing and india have won 19 of those. His s.r. being 142.15. Now I'm not saying india won because he stayed not out. I'm just saying we didn't lose a match because of his strike rate while staying not out.
He has a total of 42 not outs in 85 inns. 20 came in while chasing and india have won 19 of those. His s.r. being 142.15. Now I'm not saying india won because he stayed not out. I'm just saying we didn't lose a match because of his strike rate while staying not out.
BATTING 1st.
While batting 1st he has remained not out for 22 times. Striking at 139.66. He has faced the least number of balls per innings (13.63) among player who have scored a minimum of 300 runs while batting first and remaining not out.
While batting 1st he has remained not out for 22 times. Striking at 139.66. He has faced the least number of balls per innings (13.63) among player who have scored a minimum of 300 runs while batting first and remaining not out.
Everytime he was in a good rhythm there wasn't much balls to face or anymore runs to score.
WHILE NOT STAYING UNDEFEATED.
This is where his lows in t20i appear. He averages 19.41 at a s.r. of 116.4. Three out of those 4 matches i used in the beginning as an example came in these matches. In 43 innings he got out 29 times while striking at less than 130.
This is where his lows in t20i appear. He averages 19.41 at a s.r. of 116.4. Three out of those 4 matches i used in the beginning as an example came in these matches. In 43 innings he got out 29 times while striking at less than 130.
In those 29 times, he faced 10 or more balls in 8 innings. 20 or more balls in 7 innings and 30 or more balls in 3 innings. In those 3 innings india lost 2 of them and tied 1 (winning by bowl out against pak). He was the highest scorer for india in 2 of those 3 matches.
In the 7 innings where he faced 20 or more deliveries striking at less than 130 india lost 4 matches, where he was the 2nd highest run scorer in two of those.
In the 8 innings where he played 10 or more deliveries india lost 3 matches.
In the 8 innings where he played 10 or more deliveries india lost 3 matches.
These matches have had a greater impact on his overall strike rate. He is in no way a bad t20i batsman. It's just the role he plays doesn't allow him to bat freely. Maybe you won't mind if he gets out cheaply without "wasting" the ball but he can't do that.
You may think he's not the greatest in this format but in no way he doesn't deserve a spot in the t20i XI. He's the greatest when it comes to calculated chases and to think that he's one of the greatest t20 minds and wk's to exist. He's definitely among the MVP's of the game. 
