Don’t dare doubt greatness, former Australia captain Michael Clarke says about MS Dhoni

India wicketkeeper MS Dhoni has left the cricketing world deeply polarised in ICC World Cup 2019. While on the one hand, he has irked fans with his less-than absorbing batting down the order that has hampered India’s acceleration, but on the other, there are still people who refuse to doubt his calibre. Dhoni, who will turn 38 on the seventh of this month, is perhaps playing in his final international tournament and all Indian fans hope that he bows out with a bang.

Dhoni has come under criticism for his slow batting or rather the inability to push the scoring towards the end. He struggled against Afghanistan spinners with a 52-ball 28 and has played a couple of slow innings since then. He was blasted for his curiously slowish innings against England in which critics accused India of not going for the kill towards the end. Even against Bangladesh on Tuesday, Dhoni’s 35 off 33 balls was not found to be convincing by many.

As questions have been raised repeatedly against the legendary keeper-batsman over his slowing reflexes although he came back to form early this year after a prolonged lull, former Australia captain Michael Clarke believes he is far from a spent force yet. Speaking to Boria Majumdar on India Today, Clarke said one shouldn’t dare doubt greatness. He said India have been winning even without Dhoni making a significant contribution and that big day might come in the semi-final or final.

Dhoni best finisher to ever play the game

“He is the greatest finisher to ever play this game. Right now, India’s winning without him doing it. So, don’t waste MS Dhoni. Save him when India really need him. It might be the semi-final. It might be the final. As an opposition player and opposition captain to MS Dhoni, you would be so silly to write him off,” Clarke, who won Australia their fifth world title in 2015, said.

India and Australia are the two teams to have made the semi-finals while the remaining two slots are still up for the grabs. Dhoni will be part of three consecutive semi-finals along with captain Virat Kohli when he takes the ground in the last-four match. The entire India will pray for him to come good.