MS Dhoni Will Definitely Find A Place In The World Cup 15 For India – Kumar Sangakkara
Feb 13, 2019 at 11:33 AM
Former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara has no doubts about MS Dhoni’s place in the Indian squad for the upcoming World Cup. He feels that MS Dhoni’s presence will guide the Indian team smoothly in the forthcoming World Cup.
After a long time in his career, MS Dhoni is facing a challenge in his position as a wicketkeeper-batsman. While another wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik is running in good form with the bat, the youngster Rishabh Pant has also put a tough challenge with his consistently impressive performances.
Kumar Sangakkara believes that Rishabh Pant is an outstanding discovery for India. After making his international cricket debut in 2017, the youngster has impressed with his top-class performances.
The former Sri Lankan captain told India Today, “Rishabh Pant has been an outstanding discovery for India. So competition for places whether you are young or old actually drives you to do better. It just depends on how you take it. Whether you look at it as an opportunity or a threat.”
However, Kumar Sangakkara doesn’t feel that MS Dhoni’s place is in any threat for the upcoming World Cup. The former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper thinks that MS Dhoni is an essential member in the dressing room.
He said, “I think MS is quite secure about who he is and how he has gone about it and I think he understands people very well. So he will understand how to navigate those issues not just about selection but also personalities in the dressing room.
“When it comes to a World Cup, experience counts a lot. Not just experience but that is close to its best. I think MS Dhoni will definitely find a place in that World Cup 15 for India.”
Virat Kohli can remain cool during the World Cup if MS Dhoni is present
Also, Kumar Sangakkara further believes that MS Dhoni’s presence will help India in a tight situation during the upcoming World Cup. He feels that the Indian skipper Virat Kohli can remain cool and calm during the World Cup if MS Dhoni stays in the side.
Kumar Sangakkara added, “Also I think with his experience, Virat will want to have a very cool head on the field, if push comes to shove when they are in a tight situation in a World Cup.”
MS Dhoni has immense experience in international cricket. The wicketkeeper-batsman perfectly guides his teammate in every crucial situation. In 2018, he was struggling to perform with the bat. He was in rare poor ODI form in 2018 as he had an average of just 25.00 without scoring a single 50.
However, MS Dhoni has returned to the form in early 2019. He won the Player of the Series award during the ODI series in the Australia tour. In that three-match ODI series, the right-handed batsman scored 193 runs averaging the same. He scored half-centuries in every match of that series, including two match-winning unbeaten innings. In further, he carried the same performances and confidence in recently concluded New Zealand tour.