Appointing MS Dhoni as mentor is not to undermine anybody: BCCI treasurer

Former India skipper MS Dhoni was recently appointed as Team India’s mentor for the upcoming T20 World Cup. After about a year following his international retirement, the keeper-batter will be seen in India’s dressing room yet again and this has fascinated the cricket fraternity and the on-lookers.

Meanwhile, BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal has opened up on Dhoni’s appointment as Team India’s mentor for the mega event. The former India captain has a plethora of experience and has had a successful run whilst leading the Men in Blue. The BCCI official thus stated that having someone like him as a mentor is great and that it isn’t meant to undermine anybody.

MS Dhoni has been a great leader: BCCI treasurer

“He (Dhoni) has been a great leader. Under his captaincy, India won the inaugural World Twenty20, the 2010 and 2016 Asia Cups, the 2011 World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. The records are amazing. It is really great to have him as a mentor of the team (for the ICC World Cup). He has a good reputation and respect in the team, and also bringing him doesn’t mean to undermine anybody. They have also done a phenomenal job,” Dhumal said as quoted by News 18.

Recently Virat Kohli announced that he would step down as India’s T20 captain post the upcoming T20 World Cup. His decision fetched in mixed reactions from the cricketing fraternity. When asked if the BCCI had played any role in Kohli’s decision, Dhumal said that it was completely the skipper’s call.

“The board didn’t ask him to step down. It was absolutely his own decision. Why would we ask him to step down? He was doing a great job,” Dhumal added.

The mega event was set to be held in India last year. But owing to the uncertainties of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was suspended. It will now be played in the UAE and Oman starting from 17 October. Muscat, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah are the four venues where the matches will be held.

The final of the tournament is scheduled for November 14. India announced their squad for the high-profile event wherein a few omissions from the side stunned the cricketing fraternity.