Zaheer Khan backs MS Dhoni for World Cup, says former captain knows handling pressure best

It’s just a year of difference between 2018 and 2019 but for former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, it seems the clock is back by years. The ace wicketkeeper-batsman, who had 2018 full of struggle with the bat, returned with a new zeal this year and has scored three fifties in four innings so far, missing one in the fourth by just two runs. Dhoni won the man of the series award in the ODIs against Australia by hitting three consecutive fifties, getting out only once in three games.

Dhoni was back to his vintage form in the second ODI against New Zealand at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, belting an unbeaten 48 in just 33 balls to accelerate the team’s scoring in the slog overs. The man who played his 334th game for India to become the third joint highest alongside former captain Mohammed Azharuddin (337th overall, including three games for Asia XI) now looks to seal all the debates over his likely inclusion in the Indian squad for the World Cup.

Dhoni getting into top gear just on time

Former India pacer Zaheer Khan has backed the veteran for getting into the top gear just when it mattered and opined that he will play a vital role for Team India in the World Cup. Dhoni has played three World Cups since 2007 and captained India to win one of them, in 2011.

According to Zaheer, Dhoni’s importance will be high in the WC since the pressure in such tournaments is immense and nobody knows to handle it better than the Ranchi cricketer, who also has scored 10,000 runs in ODIs besides effecting 430 dismissals, the third most by a wicket-keeper internationally.

“Dhoni is not just bringing his game to the table. Pressure plays a big part at the World Cup and he has vast experience; we can see how active he is behind the wicket as well, sharing inputs with the captain,” Zaheer was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. Dhoni, who returned to India’s T20I side recently, did not feature in the third ODI against New Zealand at the same Bay Oval on Monday and was replaced by Dinesh Karthik.

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