New Delhi: Former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will have to change his bats in October, when the new Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) rules come into effect.
The new MCC rules, which prescribe a 40mm thickness for the bats, are set to come into effect on October 1. Hence, Dhoni will have to go for a change of bats, as his current bat has a thickness of 45mm, according Times of India.
Big-hitters in international cricket like Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard had been using 50mm bats, which help them outplay the bowlers, especially in T20s. The larger sized bats, as a result, had given batsmen an advantage over bowlers.
Team India captain, Virat Kohli, on the other hand, was one of the players who has already changed his bat size, which suits to the new rules. He joins South Africa’s AB de Villiers, and Australia captain Steve Smith, who also plays with less than 40mm sized bats.
However, Pollard has already switched his bats on hearing about the new MCC regulations. He had stated during the Indian Premier League earlier this year that it made no sense to wait till October.
Dhoni though, is one of the few Indians who are yet to change the size of their bats. The likes of KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteswar Pujara and Rishabh Pant had also switched to the latest specifications.
