MS Dhoni is being savagely attacked after his side lost to Bangladesh in the second ODI in Mirpur. By virtue of losing the second ODI, the Bangladeshis have won their first ever bilateral series against India. However, the most worrying piece of news for the Indians just didn’t end on the field. Rather, it was an off field issue which is getting on the nerves of Indian cricket fans. In a post match press conference, MS Dhoni indicated that he would be willing to step aside from the captaincy if it would positively affect the functioning of Indian cricket.
This statement has sent shivers down the spines of all the fans of the Indian team. MS Dhoni has been a reckoning force for the men in blue. His sheer presence in the middle was enough to mentally torment the bowlers. Dhoni, undoubtedly is the best finisher of the game and that is evident as he averages a staggering 109.19 in victories while chasing. The fact is that, Indian cricket will never find any potential replacement for Dhoni. Dhoni has numerously single handedly won games for India. There is something magical about the way Dhoni plays.
But like any cricketer, Dhoni at the moment endures a lean patch. Despite doing well in the context of others, it is pretty evident that he isn’t the glorious MS Dhoni of the old. With the 2019 World Cup still four years away, it might be the right time to groom the next wicketkeeper batsman who could be Dhoni’s replacement. Even if India finds a replacement that plays to half the potential of Dhoni, then they would have found a great wicketkeeper!
In this article, we have a look at the five wicketkeepers, who could possible replace Dhoni when he hangs up his boots.
1. Sanju Samson:
This prodigy has already shown promising signs with his performances in the IPL. Watching Samson bat in full flow is a treat to the eyes. Samson has now been a regular for the Rajasthan Royals since the last 3 seasons of the IPL. He has numerously played some fine knocks which reassure the future of Indian cricket. However, the one issue which affects Samson is inconsistency. On one day, he will bat like a genius, and on another, he will struggle miserably. Samson has now been a regular member of the India A setup, and did well with the side in the Quadrangular series in Australia in 2014. He seems to be the likeliest to replace Dhoni.