The legendary Caribbean batsman Brian Lara is confident that MS Dhoni will play in the IPL 2020 and will maintain his performance in this tournament too.
Since the heart-breaking defeat against New Zealand in the semi-final of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, MS Dhoni hasn’t played a cricket match yet. The 38-year-old has neither announced his international retirement nor clarified the future of his international career. While many speculations are growing up, Dhoni has recently asked to not question his international cricket future until January 2020.
MS Dhoni is an asset to any team he plays for – Brian Lara
Brian Lara believes that the former Indian world cup-winning captain MS Dhoni knows what is best for him. Lara called him an asset of every team. The former West Indies captain is not only sure Dhoni’s availability in the IPL 2020, but also confident about his good performance. Lara also believes that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and selectors also know Dhoni’s next plan.
Lara recently told India Today, “MS Dhoni would know what’s best for him. He has served Indian cricket very well. MS Dhoni is an asset to any team he plays for. I am sure he would be playing in the IPL and performing. So he would know what’s best. The BCCI and the selectors also know what’s going on.”
Rishabh Pant has a lot of unnecessary pressure – Brian Lara
Brian Lara also praised the young Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who is taking the wicketkeeping role in the Indian limited-overs teams in the absence of MS Dhoni. Lara feels that the 22-year-old Pant has a lot of unnecessary pressure at a very young age.
Lara said, “There is a lot of young exciting talent. As a 21 (22) year-old, Rishabh Pant has a lot of unnecessary pressure. When I was 21, I did not have that much pressure. I was sitting down on the bench… you know… cleaning Sir Vivian Richards’s boots or doing something… getting ready to play international cricket.”
Brian Lara has further added that Pant should be allowed to express himself without much pressure.
The legend added, “I think the burden is unnecessary. He should be allowed to play and allowed to express himself. Don’t feel it’s a do-or-die situation.”
Brian Lara also praised another young wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson, who has played only T20I for India in 2015 and is waiting for a long time to get another chance into India’s playing XI.
Lara quoted, “They have got other young players as well. Sanju Samson is also a very exciting player. I don’t think India have a problem in picking a wicketkeeper-batsman. Who gets the job? I guess that will be someone that’s deserving.”