Dhoni's experience and Virat's aggression add strength to India: Michael Clarke

India has been one of the best teams on show in international cricket in recent past across all three formats. Their recent performance in Sri Lanka, where they beat the hosts 9-0 collectively in all three series, was a testimony to the hunger and desire of the team to achieve great things in international cricket.

Michael Clarke, who is in India as a part of the commentary team for the ongoing ODI series, pointed out the quality of players available at India’s disposal. The World Cup winning skipper said that the combination of former skipper MS Dhoni and current captain Virat Kohli augurs well for the side. He highlighted that Kohli has given Dhoni the freedom to do a few things on the field which is working well for the team at the moment.

Clarke says Dhoni the quickest between wickets he has ever seen

Clarke was impressed with the level of fitness Dhoni has managed to maintain even at the age of 36. “Well, Dhoni is one of the quickest between the wickets that I have ever seen… In Virat and Dhoni, India have a wonderful combination… One can see that Dhoni still does a few things out in the field and Virat has given him that freedom… Dhoni’s experience and Virat’s aggression add strength to India,” said Clarke in a conversation with the Telegraph.

The continuous ignorance of Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina tells you about the competition of places in the squad. The likes of Kedar Jadhav, Manish Pandey, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya are fighting for the available three slots in the middle order. Clarke did not rule out Yuvraj Singh’s comeback in the near future and was impressed with Raina’s fitness levels these days.

“If Yuvraj and (Suresh) Raina are scoring big runs and an opportunity comes up, they could return. Obviously, fitness also matters. I’ve been following Raina on Instagram and he looks fit… It’s a problem of plenty for India. There are some great limited overs cricketers who aren’t in the 14 or 15.”

India preparing for the WC 2019

India are already in the process of identifying the right combination ahead of the 2019 World Cup in England. They have rested their premier spinners Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to give an extended chance to wrist spinners Chahal and Kuldeep in wake of the ineffectiveness of finger spin in the recent ICC Champions Trophy which was also held in England. Hardik Pandya’s evolvement has only made things easier for Virat Kohli.