Team India Needs MS Dhoni Even In T20s, Says Virender Sehwag

Nov 6, 2017 at 9:18 PM

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Team India Needs MS Dhoni Even In T20s, Says Virender Sehwag

Former India opener Virender Sehwag has thrown his weight behind his former teammate MS Dhoni who is facing the heat after an uncharacteristic innings which affected India’s chase during their loss in the second T20I against New Zealand on Saturday (November 4).

The former India skipper had walked into bat when the Men in Blue were reduced to 67 for 4 in the 10th over in pursuit of a daunting 197. But while the situation demanded more than 10 runs per over, Dhoni failed to play according to the situation. The 36-year old’s strike-rate was less than 100 and was batting at 17 off 20 balls before hitting a six to take it over 100. But due to his knock, India could not get the impetus to chase down the big total and Kohli also found it tough to bail the team out of trouble.

Dhoni and Kohli had failed to take India home in the second T20I (Credits: BCCI)

The World Cup-winning skipper managed to score 49 off 37 balls but by the time he played some big shots it was too late as New Zealand won the match by 40 runs to level the three-match series. Dhoni’s knock, nonetheless, has once again given rise to debate over whether he should retire from the shortest format of the game with the likes of Ajit Agarkar and VVS Laxman opining that the wicketkeeper-batsman should quit.

However, Sehwag feels the team needs Dhoni in T20Is too and said that his former teammate will hang his boots at the right time.

“Team India needs MS Dhoni at the moment, even in T20 cricket. He will step down at the right time. He will never block the way for any young cricketer,” he told India TV.

Sehwag and Laxman have given contradicting views on Dhoni’s future in T20Is (Credits: Twitter)

Earlier, Laxman had said Dhoni should either bat at number 4 or should make way for any youngster.

“In T20s, MS Dhoni’s role is at No 4. He requires more time to get his eye in and then do the job. But today [Saturday] was a classical example because when Virat Kohli was batting, Dhoni had to give strike to Kohli. Kohli’s strike rate was 160, MS Dhoni’s strike rate was 80. That’s not good enough when India were chasing a mammoth total,”  Laxman had said.

Laxman feels Dhoni should make way for an youngster in T20Is (Credits: AFP)

I still feel it’s time for MS Dhoni to give youngsters a chance in T20 format. It will be an opportunity for a youngster to blossom and get confidence playing international cricket. He is definitely an integral part of ODI cricket,” he had added.

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