Team India will not miss MS Dhoni in T20 cricket: former cricketers

After India lost the second Twenty 20 International (T20I) to New Zealand in Rajkot former Indian cricketers VVS Laxman, Ajit Agarkar and Aakash Chopra said that it is time for Team India to look beyond veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni in T20I cricket. He had a good opportunity to prove himself once again. In the 10th over of India’s chase of 197, Dhoni joined skipper Virat Kohli at a batting friendly wicket after fast bowler Trent Boult toppled the top order with ease.

When India lost its top order cheaply, they required 10 to 12 runs per over to win the match the former skipper failed to soak the pressure and struggled to connect the ball, as a result, the pressure was mounting on Kohli, who was looking solid with his willow in hand.

It seems because of Dhoni’s problem Kohli felt the pressure as he played an unusual knock and was dismissed for 65 in the 17th over. However, Dhoni hit a few big shots before the end of the match but it was too late and didn’t help India get past the target set by New Zealand.

India will not miss MS Dhoni in T20I cricket

Former Indian fast bowler Ajit Agarkar believes Dhoni needs to bid adieu the shortest format of the game to vacant a position for a youngster. “India need to look at other options in T20 cricket for sure. ODI cricket, at the moment, they [Team India] seem to be happy with the role he [Dhoni] is playing. When he was captain, it was fine. But as a pure batsman, will India miss him? I don’t think so. In T20 cricket, it’s a lot easier to make the transition. There is enough experience apart from MS Dhoni now,” Agarkar said during ESPNCricinfo’s post-match show Matchday on Saturday.

“It’s not necessarily because of an innings tonight. He’s been batting like this for a while. In T20I cricket, it’s easier to move on. Sometimes the youngsters can do the job as well “It would have been still difficult to chase down that score. You had a chance if MS got going immediately. That’s been his problem for a while. He takes a little bit of time, but T20 cricket, there is no time,” he further added.

Arguing with the opinion that Dhoni should bat at different positions, Agarkar said he came to bat in 10th over. “How many times do you get to bat 10 overs in a T20I game? Enough time for any batsman,” Agarkar questioned.

Dhoni is no more a reckoned finisher in world cricket. Though he has a fine record in the shortest format his ability to finish matches has been on the wane. The World T20 winning skipper’s failure in the shortest format has hurt Team India’s prospect on a regular basis in recent past.

Focus should be on World T20 2020′

Meanwhile, former India opener Chopra insisted that India need to find a replacement for Dhoni well ahead of next World T20 in 2020 as the 36-year-old is unlikely to continue after the 2019 World Cup. The former Delhi opener also slammed Dhoni for his attitude to the stiff chase on Saturday.

“Everybody keeps saying that MS Dhoni will be there for the 2019 World Cup. Do we know that there is a World T20 in 2020, one year after the 50-over World Cup? If he is not going to be there, which is a possibility, then why not look for somebody else. Just groom somebody while he is there in the 50-over format,” Chopra said during the post-match show on Star Sports on Saturday.

“Today, it was not great. He did not just have to rotate strike. That was not good enough. If we need about 12-13 an over, taking a single is not going to work, even if Virat gets a boundary, it will not be enough. So you need to strike from both ends from ball one — it happens once in awhile in T20I cricket, Dhoni was just looking to get singles instead of hitting the big ones. Kohli felt the pressure and eventually he got dismissed,” he added.

BCCI must give opportunity to a youngster: Laxman

At the same time, former India middle-order batsman VVS Laxman believes Dhoni should still be an integral part of the 50 over side, but he must take a call on his T20 career to vacant the position of wicketkeeper to a youngster.

“In T20s, MS Dhoni’s role is at No 4. He requires more time to get his eye in and then do the job. But today [Saturday] was a classical example because when Virat Kohli was batting, Dhoni had to give strike to Kohli. Kohli’s strike rate was 160, MS Dhoni’s strike rate was 80. That’s not good enough when India were chasing a mammoth total,” Laxman said.

He added: “I still feel it’s time for MS Dhoni to give youngsters a chance in T20 format. It will be an opportunity for a youngster to blossom and get confidence playing international cricket. He is definitely an integral part of ODI cricket.”