Team India is all set to lock horns with Sri Lanka in the limited-overs leg of their tour and will face the Islanders in first of the five-match ODI series from Sunday at Pallekele.
This series from India’s perspective would be to find out their perfect combination for the 2019 World Cup which is scheduled in England and Wales. After a 3-0 drubbing, the Men in Blue will look to continue their dominance in the limited-overs format as well and will look to whitewash the Lankans in the ODI series as well.
Meanwhile, the former India captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is on the verge of something extraordinary. It might well turn out to the series where Dhoni might achieve what no other wicket-keeper could do in their illustrious career.
He is on the verge of completing 100 stumpings and is currently placed 2nd just behind Kumara Sangakkara (99) with 97 dismissals. He has a golden opportunity to break Sanga’s record, who has already called it quits from international cricket after the 2015 World Cup.
Dhoni has been involved in 375 dismissals in ODI cricket as a wicket keeper out of which 278 are catches, and 97 are stumpings. He is also 4th on the all-time list of most dismissals by a wicket-keeper. The chart led by Sangakkara (482) is followed by Adam Gilchrist and Mark Boucher with 472 and 424 dismissals, respectively.
It is no hidden fact that Dhoni is one hell of a limited overs cricketer and his street smart instincts have separated him from the other greats of his time. Though age is slowly catching up with him, Dhoni is still India’s best bet especially in the limited-overs format. He is still one of the fittest players around and can give guys like Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja a run for their money with his agility on the field.
BCCI Chairman of Selectors, MSK Prasad made it pretty clear that Dhoni is no more India’s automatic choice and they have to think of options if he isn’t delivering. Players like Rishabh Pant are there in the ranks, so it is a must for Dhoni to show his class in the series.