There is no denying the fact that MS Dhoni has contributed immensely to the Indian cricket. Unquestionably, he is one of the most talented and respected players of the world but many are raising voices against him as he is not performing well with his bat.
However, the 36 years old cricketer has shown some signs of reviving his form in the series played against Sri Lanka and he is also receiving support from his team-mates, captain, team management and the coach.
The Indian team coach Ravi Shastri came out in support of Dhoni and slammed all those who had been criticising him. Ravi went on to say that all those who are criticising Dhoni should analyse their own career when they were 36 years old.
Ravi also claimed that at this age, Dhoni is fitter and faster than the guys who are 10 years younger to him. He told India Today,
“We are not stupid. I have been watching this sport for the last 30-40 years. Virat has been a part of this team for a decade now. We know, at this age, he (Dhoni) can beat players aged 26. People, who talk, forget that they played the game.”
Even the chief selector MSK Prasad also said that no youngster has the capability to match up with Dhoni and India doesn’t have a wicket-keeper who is as quick behind the wickets as Dhoni.
Ravi also repeated the same when he said,
“If they look at themselves in the mirror and ask the question, ‘what they were at the age of 36?’. Would they have run two runs faster? But the time they finish two, this guy will run three. Then he has won only two World Cups and averages only 51. Till today you don’t have a wicket-keeper to replace him in the one-day team.”
He further said,
“He is still one of the best around, not only in the Indian team, but in the world. Some of the things you see with him are not sold in the market. You will not get it anywhere else. The fact that he does not play Test cricket, means he should be playing as much cricket as possible till the World Cup in 2019.”
The Indian team will be touring South Africa and play a three-match test series which will start from January 5. India hasn’t won a test-series on South African soil till now. Ravi Shastri said,
“For us all opposition is the same, all oppositions have to be respected and every game is a home match. And as it turned out that next we are in South Africa. Where South Africa is different is that we haven’t won a series in South Africa.”
We wish luck to team India for their tour of South Africa.
