Harbhajan Singh chooses MS Dhoni as captain of his dream World Cup XI

Days ahead of India’s opening campaign at the ICC World Cup 2019, veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has picked his dream World Cup XI and named Mahendra Singh Dhoni as its captain. The Turbanator, who will turn 39 next month, said while praising the ace keeper-batsman that he had no second thoughts while arriving at his decision.

Dhoni, who will turn 38 during the tournament which kicked off on May 30, is playing his fourth and final World Cup. The only World Cup-winning captain in the fray, the Ranchi cricketer has come a long way to earn a place in the final squad for this year’s edition being held in England and Wales. He belted a 78-ball 113 in one of India’s warm-up games against Bangladesh in Cardiff ahead of the tournament and the Indian fans will earnestly pray that he continues with the same form in the showpiece event.

“No doubt, my captain is MS Dhoni. After Sourav Ganguly, if the world has seen a better captain, it has to be MS Dhoni. Even in the present scenario, there is no smarter captain than him,” India Today quoted Harbhajan, who was a member of the champion squad of 2011 led by Dhoni, as saying.

‘Dhoni 10 steps ahead of the opposition’

Praising his current captain in Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings, Harbhajan further applauded Dhoni saying not many in the cricketing world can match his level of game awareness. “People say a captain has to be 2 steps ahead of his opposition. MS Dhoni is 10 steps ahead,” he said.

Apart from his keeping and batting skills, Dhoni is also being called the third eye of Indian captain Virat Kohli for his impeccable reading of the game and the inputs he gives from behind the stumps. Kohli has also spoken highly about the man and for India to win their third World Cup title, the man will have to play a key role.

Kohli had said earlier in an interview to India Today that Dhoni is someone who knows the game inside out and understands the game from ball 1 to 300 on the ground. India will be playing their first match in the World Cup on June 5 when they take on a cornered South Africa in Southampton.