Ravi Shastri takes a pot shot at MS Dhoni's critics, asks ‘do you know cricket?’

MS Dhoni’s world has changed overnight in 2019. After a long gloomy phase with the bat, the former captain came out in a new avatar in the new year, putting all suspicion over his dying ability to rest. The 37-year-old Ranchi cricketer slammed three consecutive fifties against Australia in his first international series after some months to help India clinch a historic series and also bag the Man of the Series award.

Dhoni though did not get to play much in the ODI series against New Zealand, missing a few games owing to injury. But his touch with the bat was visible in the second match in Mount Maunganui where he hit a 48 not out in just 33 balls. Meanwhile, his work with the gloves has remained as electric as ever.

India’s head coach Ravi Shastri spoke out in the support of the former captain and took on the latter’s critics saying nobody is good enough to criticise the veteran. He even said that cricketers like Dhoni come once in a generation and asked whether those who were talking against him had any knowledge of the game.

“Nobody is good enough to criticise MS Dhoni. If you talk about him, do you even know anything about cricket?” Shastri asked while speaking to Cricbuzz in an exclusive interview.

“Dhoni is like Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar. These guys come once in 30-40 years. He is an ornament to the game. He has been the captain of a number one Test team and has two World Cups to his name. In fact, tell me which trophy has he not won? Name it. There is no space in his trophy cabinet,” Shastri said adding that people should something about cricket before start talking about Dhoni. “You don’t get a guy (of his experience and ability) overnight.”

Shastri praises Dhoni running out James Neesham

Dhoni, who had hit a six to end the final of the 2011 World Cup and became the second captain to lead India to a world title win after Kapil Dev, effected a brilliant run-out against a dangerous-looking James Neesham in the final ODI against New Zealand in Wellington last Sunday. India eventually won the game and Shastri said, “That was Dhoni at his very best, like a con artist.”

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