At a time when Indian cricket is constantly debating the future, MS Dhoni has once again stepped in with a calm, no-nonsense perspective that cuts through the noise. The former India captain, who led the team to two World Cup titles, believes the discussion around age and selection has gone in the wrong direction. Many fans feel that MS Dhoni has sent a message to Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar in a simple manner in regard to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma playing in the World Cup 2027. For Dhoni, the only things that should matter when picking players for India are performance and fitness, nothing else.
Dhoni shared his thoughts while responding to a question from Jatin Sapru about whether senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should be considered for India’s 2027 ODI World Cup campaign. Without pausing, Dhoni answered simply, asking why they should not be in contention if they continue to perform.
He made it clear that age has never been a deciding factor in his understanding of selection. According to Dhoni, judging players based on how old they are makes little sense in modern cricket. What truly counts is how well a player is performing and whether they are fit enough to compete at the highest level. He stressed that everyone should be treated equally, regardless of how long they have been around.
Reflecting on his own journey, Dhoni pointed out that when he made his international debut at the age of 24, nobody questioned his age or future. In the same way, he believes no player should be told when to step aside just because of a number. Whether someone has played for one year or twenty years, the standards should remain the same. Fitness, he said, is non-negotiable. Even a young player cannot expect a place in the team if they are not physically ready.
Dhoni also felt that the decision to continue or step away from a World Cup campaign should rest with the players themselves. As long as someone has the hunger to perform for the country and continues to deliver on the field, there is no reason to rule them out. According to him, this applies not only to Virat Kohli but to any player who might still be around in the coming years.
The debate around India’s next ODI World Cup squad has been intense, with many calling for younger players to replace experienced names like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom are in their late thirties. Dhoni questioned this line of thinking and asked a simple but important question — how does a team build experience if players are pushed aside once they cross a certain age?
He explained that experience cannot be fast-tracked. A team cannot suddenly expect a 20-year-old to be calm under pressure unless that player is Sachin Tendulkar who made his debut at the age of 16-17. International cricket, Dhoni reminded, is very different from domestic or age-group cricket. True experience comes from being in difficult situations repeatedly and learning how to handle them.
Dhoni highlighted that players who bat in the lower order or bowl in the death overs face the most pressure, especially in close matches. Such situations do not happen in every game. To truly understand how to control nerves and emotions, a player needs to be tested under pressure many times, which only happens after playing around 70-80 matches.
At the same time, Dhoni acknowledged the importance of having young talent in the squad. He believes the ideal team always has a healthy mix of youth and experience. However, this balance should never come at the cost of fitness. Whether a player is 24 or 35, the expectations remain the same. If you are fit and performing, you deserve your place.
Dhoni concluded by saying that selection should never revolve around individual names or timelines like the next World Cup being two or three years away. Players can be dropped at any point if they stop performing or lose fitness. The rule is simple, according to him, if you are delivering results and are physically ready, you keep playing. If not, the team moves on. In Dhoni’s words, age has no role to play, only effort, form and fitness do.
