It is premature to talk about future of MS Dhoni and Yuvi: MSK Prasad

Team India won the ODI series against England 2-1, Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya impressed with their performances and utility for the team but the brightest point for them was Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni not only scoring runs but forging important partnerships in the middle order. A lot of fans termed it a roll back moment of something that happened pretty regularly in the mid-2000s.

Chairman of selectors MSK Prasad was mighty pleased with the effort of the team to grab a series that was fiercely contested. “It’s not just about the series win, it wasn’t an easy win and we had to fight hard. This tournament has thrown us some wonderful opportunities and some of the calls that we as selectors took have worked well. Like Yuvraj and Kedar (Jadhav) coming in and Mahi (Dhoni) getting back among runs. So these are wonderful things, apart from winning that we had.” Prasad was quoted by PTI on Cricket Next as saying.

Immediately the presumption that the duo would be the preferred pair for the middle-order for the Champions Trophy 2017 and the Cricket World Cup 2019 were around but the former wicketkeeper said it is too soon to be talking about something that distant in the future. “It is premature to talk about Dhoni and Yuvi being part of the 2019 WC. We can’t talk about something that is 800 or more days away from now,” he said.

In his view former skipper MS Dhoni is the best wicketkeeper-batsman in limited-overs cricket in the world at the moment and an asset of priceless value for the team. “As of now MSD is the best keeper batsman batsman in the world. He is an invaluable asset. If the situation arose Mahi knows what to do. I don’t think that situation will arise in the coming few months or a year’s time,” Prasad said.

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Yuvi’s selection was backed by his Ranji Trophy performance and skipper Virat Kohli’s desire to bring back the southpaw to strengthen the middle order with his experience. He also gave Yuvi the freedom to go out and express himself without worrying about anything else.

“All said and done we were a bit worried about the middle-order during the New Zealand ODI series. Now I am more confident, the way Kedar played and Yuvraj did. With the likes of (Ajinkya) Rahane, Manish (Pandey) and (Ambati) Rayudu in the reserves shows the kind of bench strength we have. I am absolutely confident now,” he said.

“Yuvraj was definitely not a gamble. The five selectors earlier, and three now, had seen him do exceptionally well in the domestic circuit. Some one who can get a 260 and a 180 shows the ability and the hunger he has. I had no doubts that he is working hard to make a comeback. What else can a batsman do and with his ability,” Prasad concluded saying.