Gautam Gambhir believes MS Dhoni still has the goods to deliver for Team India

The question ‘When will MS Dhoni announce his retirement from international cricket?’ has done the rounds on several prior occasions. However, the cricketer himself has shown no sign of calling it quits yet, as he continues to don the India jersey in the limited-overs formats. Although Dhoni has retired from Test cricket, he is a regular feature in the Indian ODI and T20I side, primarily because his wicketkeeping skills remain unmatched.

The stumper is widely considered the best in the world, and despite his lack of runs with the bat, many believe he should continue to play for India, especially in the 2019 World Cup. Dhoni has tremendous experience under his belt, and when he does fire with the bat, there are few oppositions that can stop him.

India will, however, need to start grooming their next wicketkeeper especially as Dhoni is expected to hang up his boots after the mega event next year. Rishabh Pant currently keeps wickets for India in the longest format and has already been criticized for his lack of footwork behind the stumps. However, as Dhoni’s finishing abilities seem to fade away, experts believe India need to look beyond the former India captain. Anil Kumble himself said recently that the team cannot depend on Dhoni to do the finishing job all the time.

Performance only criteria to be in team: Gambhir

In an interview with Times Now, veteran Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir was asked whether MS Dhoni should retire from international cricket. He said, “Performance is the only criteria one can be part of a team. If you are not performing, you cannot be part of a team. Age doesn’t matter. I am sure Dhoni will be wanting to perform and prove the critics wrong.”

Earlier, one of the BCCI officials also mentioned that it is important to give Pant enough chances and has the ability to become a good batsman lower down the order where the team is struggling currently. “We all know that Dhoni will play till the World Cup but there is no harm in grooming Pant, who could be a terrific No.6 or 7 batsman, who has the ability to finish games,” the official had said.

India are currently playing the Windies in a three-format series, following which they will travel to Australia for a lengthy tour. The World Cup kicks off in late May next year, with India’s opening fixture scheduled for June 5 against South Africa.

Keep following CricTracker for more news and updates.