ICC World Cup 2019 | MS Dhoni knows exactly what he wants to do, says Virat Kohli

After a sluggish 28 against Afghanistan, MS Dhoni had come under fire for costing the team an added 20-30 runs. So, India sent him at no. 6 against Windies with the team in an even more precarious situation. 

With the side at 140/4 in the 29th over. MS took his time, just like the previous match, but strung a partnership together with skipper Kohli first and then Hardik Pandya. However, with Pandya departing in the penultimate over, the total had only crawled past 250. 

But then Dhoni delivered, reminding everyone of his early days. Three huge blows in the final over, and soon the Windies were chasing close to 270. Kohli, like he has always done, backed the ex-skipper’s experience and understanding of the game. 

"(About Dhoni) He knows what he wants to do, and anybody can have off-days. When he has off-days, everybody starts talking. We back him, and the best thing is when you need extra 15-20 runs in the end, he does that well. He knows how to bat with the tail. His experience, eight out of 10 times, works for us,” said Virat at the post-match presentation, reported ESPNCricinfo.

Kohli also noted that with his brand of calculative cricket, Dhoni always had a way of giving continuous feedback to the other batsmen as to what a winning total might be. 

“He's one guy who sends out a message that what the par score is on a pitch. If he says 265 is a good score on a pitch, we don't aim for 300 and end up scoring 230,” Virat added.

Kohli has himself been in some good form this World Cup, hitting four consecutive fifties. When asked about his Man of the Match performance, he said, “It's been my strength to assess conditions quickly. 70 percent of my runs come in singles, and that's the best way to keep runs coming.”

Overall, team India has been looking increasingly strong as the tournament has progressed. Kohli puts this down to the team’s ability to adapt to any opponent, any match scenario, any condition on a given day. 

“The last two games, things haven't gone as we thought it would, but we've found ways of winning. The intensity in the field in the first 15 overs is something really good. Bodies on the line, and a mindset showing a desperation to win. We feel we can win from any situation," Virat said of the team.

The unbeaten Men in Blue play hosts England next, at Edgbaston on Sunday.