Sourav Ganguly highlights the importance of MS Dhoni in the Indian Team

For people who had questions about MS Dhoni’s place in the Indian ODI setup, yesterday’s ODI at Dharamshala was the probably the perfect answer to any and every question surrounding Dhoni’s involvement in the Indian team.

When India were tottering at 16/5, the old warhorse turned up like a messiah, someone who knew how to deal with the situation, someone who belonged there, someone who could, for sure, take India out of that slump. And Dhoni delivered; it was almost as if he was meant to, in order to prove the world and the people of his own country(one that he lead to glory(ultimate glory) in 2011) that he was still relevant.

And relevant he was, saving India from a huge embarrassment and chalking out an innings of substance, when every other player found it extremely hard to feel his feet in the middle.

Sourav Ganguly was quick to highlight Dhoni’s importance in the India unit following that masterful innings. He also emphasised on the fact that this was why Virat Kohli continued to persist with him despite so much opposition from the ‘critics’.

Ganguly highlighting Dhoni’s importance

“Very much [Dhoni’s experience key to India]. He showed that today. The fast bowlers had already finished six-seven overs when he came in. But still, it’s a one-ball game, he needed to hang around.” Ganguly said.

“He attacked when needed and rotated when needed. It’s a terrific inning from Dhoni. It was a matured inning. That is why Virat Kohli persists with him in 50-over cricket. That is why he is important to Team India in the 50-over format for whatever time he decides to play.” Ganguly added.

It is great to see Ganguly realising and pointing out Dhoni’s importance in the Indian team, as there have been a lot of people calling for Dhoni to axed from the Indian limited overs side.

But Dhoni has time and again proved why he is so important to the Indian team, playing innumerable crucial innings in the middle during times of crisis.