ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Virat Kohli reveals what makes MS Dhoni indispensable to Indian team
Kohli expressed that Dhoni is priceless as a wicket-keeper and the cricket fans and pundits should be patient with the former Indian captain whenever he his unable to bat at his best.
MS Dhoni has been an integral part of the Indian team since his debut in 2004. After leading India to a T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy and a 50-over World Cup, Dhoni has earned the reputation of being an astute thinker of the game. The current Indian captain Virat Kohli has always backed MS Dhoni, even when the wicket-keeper-batsman went through patches of poor form last year.
“What can I say about him. My career started under him and few have seen him from so close over the last few years as I have. There’s one thing about MS that’s far more important than anything else - and there’s a lot to him - for him, the team is always above everything else. It’s always about the team, no matter what. To top it, look at the experience he brings to the squad and we’re richer with it. Some of his dismissals behind the stumps, just recently too (in IPL), were match-changing,” said Kohli in an interview to Times of India.
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Dhoni has continued to nurture young Indian cricketers even after stepping down as captain of the Indian team. He has helped spinners such as Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav become better bowlers by giving them tips from behind the stumps.
Kohli expressed that Dhoni is priceless as a wicket-keeper and the cricket fans and pundits should be patient with the former Indian captain whenever he his unable to bat at his best.
“That’s unfortunate. Honestly, I think people lack patience. An odd day here, a poor one there, and chatter becomes endless. But the fact is that MS Dhoni is among the smartest guys in the game. Behind the stumps, as I said, he’s priceless. It gives me the freedom to do my thing. Someone like MS is around with a wealth of experience,” said Kohli.