Sunil Gavaskar feels MS Dhoni’s contribution in World Cup 2019 will be massive

MS Dhoni continues to be among the most talked-about cricketers ahead of the ICC World Cup that starts in England in less than a month’s time. The 37-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman is set to appear in his fourth and final tournament and would like to end his World Cup career on a high. The Ranchi cricketer’s participation in the WC came under questioning even a few months ago because of his slow batting but he came back strongly with the willow this year.

Among the former greats who foresee Dhoni’s big role in the tournament is Sunil Gavaskar. The former India captain predicts that the keeper-batsman will make a “massive” contribution to the Men in Blue’s campaign and that will not be restricted to his enviable instinctive reading of the game.

The former World Cup-winning captain has also been in a superb batting form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite some health problems and Gavaskar feels he will continue to chip in with the bat during the World Cup to help India pose totals that are defendable. Dhoni has scored 358 runs in 11 games for Chennai Super Kings at an average of 119.33 and strike-rate of 142 up.

Dhoni will be key if top three fail, feels Sunny

“I think it will be very important because we have a fabulous top-three. But in case the top-three don’t make their usual contribution, then Dhoni’s contribution down the order, whether it’s at number four or five, will make a big difference in India posting a defendable total,” Times of India cited reports quoting Gavaskar, who was at the opening of ‘Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani International Centre for Child Care’ in Kharghar, around 40km from Mumbai, as saying.

The original Little Master also lauded Dhoni’s wicket-keeping skills and how he plays a key role in helping his captain Virat Kohli in making the field placements.

“…we have seen the wicket-keeping skills that he has. But more importantly as somebody who stands close to the wicket, guiding the spinners where to bowl, guiding the other bowlers also where to ball and making those little field adjustments…,” he added.

Gavaskar, a member of India’s World Cup-winning squad of 1983, added that Dhoni’s experience of winning a WC in 2011 will bolster his experience even more.

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