Sunil Gavaskar said MS Dhoni working as a mentor of the Indian cricket team will benefit them a great deal at the T20 World Cup in the UAE.
Legendary India batsman Sunil Gavaskar welcomed the inclusion of keeper MS Dhoni as India’s mentor at the T20 World Cup, saying off-field tactics might help influence the outcome of games in fast-paced T20 cricket.
Sunil Gavaskar Welcomes Move To Bring MS Dhoni As A Mentor For 2021 T20I WC
Speaking at Salaam Cricket 2021, Sunil Gavaskar said MS Dhoni’s work as a mentor will definitely benefit Virat Kohli’s team in the showpiece event but said a lot will depend on how India players execute their plans in crunch situations. MS Dhoni was appointed as India’s mentor for the T20 World Cup and the former captain is not getting any monetary benefit for the honorary role.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah had thanked MS Dhoni for the gesture as India look to end their 8-year drought for an ICC trophy. After leading Chennai Super Kings to their 4th Indian Premier League title in Dubai last week, MS Dhoni joined the Team India bio-bubble as their mentor. He was spotted having conversations with the players and the support staff during their first training session in Dubai.
MS Dhoni was seen with Rishabh Pant during India’s warm-up match win over Australia in Dubai as the two wicketkeepers were working on training drills. While captain Virat Kohli has lauded the appointment of MS Dhoni, opening batsman KL Rahul said he is looking forward to learning from the World Cup 2007 (T20I) and 2011 (ODI) winning former captain once again.
“Mentor won’t do much on the field. But in the change room, he is needed. T20 is such a fast-paced game that the right tactics can change the proceedings. When you have a time-out, you need to know what you have to tell your batters or fielders. To understand this, bringing MS Dhoni as mentor is a very good move. It will definitely benefit the team,” Gavaskar said.
“But he will remain in the change room. But the work on the field needs to be done by the players. So learning how to handle that pressure and then respond to that pressure will influence the result.”
KL Rahul has been one of the most consistent T20 performers for India, with astounding returns of 659, 593, 670, and 626 runs in the last four editions of IPL.
The 40-year-old MS Dhoni’s new role as a mentor of Team India is limited to the T20I World Cup. MS Dhoni is the most successful captain in white-ball cricket with all 3 ICC titles – 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 World Cup, 2013 Champions Trophy- in his cabinet. He’s led IPL franchise CSK to victory in the IPL in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021.
Sunil Gavaskar: India Should Sort Final XI Right In Major Knock Out Games
Sunil Gavaskar highlighted that India has not been able to get past the knockout hurdles at ICC tournaments in the recent past and said team selection is something that the Asian giants should get right at these crucial matches.
“From whatever I have seen, India has lacked in major knock-out games and that lacking has been in team selection. The selection of the final XI. If you are able to sort out that final XI problem, then you might not face the hiccup,” Gavaskar said.
India was knocked out in the semi-final of the 2015 World Cup and the T20 World Cup in 2016. In 2017, India lost to Pakistan in the final of the Champions Trophy followed by a semi-final exit at the 2019 World Cup