Moving Yuvraj up the order ‘slightly difficult’, says Mahendra Singh Dhoni

M.S. Dhoni & Jaspreet Bumrah. (Photo: PTI)

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted that he is aware of the lack of batting chances for Yuvraj Singh but said bringing him up the order is “slightly difficult” given the extraordinary record of top four batsmen.

Dhoni experimented with the batting line-up, promoting Hardik Pandya ahead of himself and Yuvraj Singh, who came in at no.7 and got out for a duck.

“If you see, Yuvi bats for us at number five. Now it is a bit difficult to promote him above five because in the top four, two openers are there and Yuvi can’t bat there. At no. 3 Virat Kohli is batting and Suresh Raina is there at number four. These four have an extraordinary record in T20 in India or outside. So it is slightly difficult,” said Dhoni.

Dhoni, however, said he would like to give the left-hander more batting opportunities. “Going in the 17th or 18th over and playing straight away will be difficult because he is a proper batsman who can hit. He has always found it slightly difficult. So, we will see how it goes. But definitely, I will try that he too gets exposure and batting opportunity in coming matches.But again we want to win games and that will be our priority. But we will see how it goes,” said the captain.

Medium-pacer Jasprit Bumrah also put up a fine show with his figures reading an impressive 3-0-17-2. “The good thing about Bumrah is he definitely has a bit of pace. He does not have a normal action. So batsmen take time to get used to him,” he said.