Zaheer Khan silences MS Dhoni’s critics

The debate on MS Dhoni’s position in India’s limited-overs setup is probably the hottest cricketing topic surfacing social media this summer. With the 2019 World Cup nearing, the poor form of the veteran wicket-keeper has put a question mark on his place in the squad.

Some pundits want the 36-year-old to bid farewell to the team while others remain of an opinion to use the veteran’s experience in the mega-event coming up next year in England.

As far as former India seamer Zaheer Khan is concerned, Dhoni’s huge experience is the reason why the Indian team should retain him at least till the 50-over World Cup in 2019.

MS Dhoni has to be one of the most successful cricketers of all time, winning various trophies throughout his long tenure as a captain.

Despite the wicket-keeper batter having a great IPL 11, he could not carry his form to the tour of England, and was found wanting against the English opposition. The struggles with the national side had then raised a lot of questions over his place in the side.

Nevertheless, having featured in 95 Tests and 200 ODIs, MS Dhoni’s experience is vital to a relatively new captain Virat Kohli, and coach Ravi Shastri. Thus, Zaheer Khan feels that the debate over Dhoni’s place is pointless right now as he still has a lot to offer through his experience.

“If the team management has persisted with him till now, they might as well do it till the World Cup,” Zaheer spoke on the sidelines of a seminar.

Putting stress on the skills of the veteran wicket-keeper, Zaheer claimed that the former Indian skipper’s cricketing knowledge led the Indian team to victory in the ODI World Cup of 2011. His experience of that World Cup campaign would come in handy when Virat Kohli captains India in the World Cup next year in England.

“Dhoni has performed the difficult job of captaining India for years. His experience could prove to be extremely beneficial. He is as good as we have got,” the former left-armer spoke on Dhoni’s future with the Indian side.