Virat Kohli mentions how he would love to have MS Dhoni

With the world cup just about two years from now, Virat Kohli will be looking to start his preparations for the mega event from the upcoming ODI season.

India will play 24 ODIs in the next few months, with the ongoing series against Sri Lanka being the start of what’s going to be a challenging period for the Indians.

Kohli is also well aware of the attention that will be on MS Dhoni. The former India skipper has been questioned regarding his form as doubts grow about his place in the current ODI team.

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Kohli though is a huge supporter of Dhoni, and believes that he still has a place in the current set up.

“This coming season gives us an opportunity to define roles for players and give them time to execute it so that for the World Cup, we know exactly what one player needs to do in certain situations,” Kohli told mediapersons ahead of second ODI.

“And it helps someone like MS also because he doesn’t play Test cricket anymore. This long streak of matches will help him be in touch with the international games, find some momentum and stick to it,” Kohli added.

“So it’s an opportunity for everyone in the team including MS to create good habits and sustain them over a period of time,” the skipper made it amply clear how much he wishes to have an in-form Dhoni in the team.

Kohli also spoke about Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, three youngsters who are looking to break into the side.

“It was a case of having two left-arm spinners that led us not playing Kuldeep in the first game. Axar was favoured more than Kuldeep from the point of view that he bats quite well and he is a gun (great) in the field also. Kuldeep has got opportunities in the past,” he said.

“(Yuzvendra) Chahal and Axar are guys who haven’t got many opportunities so we want to test them out. It’s all about giving opportunities to people which we feel will not hamper our plans in any way and at the same time, it’s about giving them exposure at international cricket,” he further added.