5 ways in which MS Dhoni can prolong his ODI captaincy

5 ways in which MS Dhoni can prolong his ODI captaincy: After Virat Kohli’s impressive performance in Sri Lanka and rumours of him being handed over the ODI baton soon, there is no denying that MS Dhoni is under pressure. The much talked about mutual understanding between Team Director Ravi Shastri and Virat must also be sending jitters down his mind. His decision to retire from Tests was more due to a sense that his days were over rather than a selfless call to quit. Off late he has been an indifferent figure in the dressing room and the new equations with Virat at the helm are surely bothering him. But the national selectors have shown faith in his abilities by retaining him as the skipper for the limited overs series against South Africa. This is a great opportunity for him to bring back things on track. Here is how he could do it. 5 ways in which MS Dhoni can prolong his ODI captaincy 1. Come up in the batting order (Photo Source: FusionUltra) How many times have we heard cricket experts say that? But for some reason or the other Dhoni remains reluctant to do so. Now the time has come to change the perceptions of the public and show that he is a fine batsman even when batting at the top. With Raina down the order, he can also be assured of finishing firepower in the batting line up. Having come a long way from being the dashing, aggressive player he is now much more composed and calculated at the crease. Coming in early he can set the tone of the Indian innings and along with Kohli put a platform for a strong finish later. 2. Relinquish wicket keeping duties MS Dhoni. (© Getty Images) Leading one of the most cricket-crazy nations is hard in itself, but doing so while also being the wicket keeper and a leading batsman in the side is nothing short of mind-boggling. Dhoni is one of only three men to keep wickets in over 400 international matches. He remains one of the quickest runners in cricket but his reflexes behind the wicket specially in trying circumstances have been exposed. Not withstanding his superhuman abilities, age seems to have caught up with MSD. Captaining and playing only two formats without having to keep wickets could help the Dhoni of old come to the fore. India has no dearth of wicket keeper batsmen and thus this decision could be a wise one. 3. Go for the kill against the Proteas Gandhi-Mandela series 2015. (© PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) It is anybody’s guess how crucial the upcoming South Africa series is going to be, in deciding the fate of Dhoni, as the limited overs skipper. And it might not be a bad idea if he decides to plan the roadmap to success in a way which is centred on aggressive cricket. South Africa have a good side but playing at home India will be the overwhelming favourites. If India take the ascendancy it would be a huge ask for the visitors to stage a comeback. With a strong batting line up and quality spinners Dhoni should not hesitate in putting the tourists under the hammer right away. A series win in the T20s and ODIs could prove to be a vital tonic for Dhoni going forward. 4. Play with five proper bowlers . (Photo Source: BCCI) MS Dhoni can take a cue from Virat Kohli’s approach which brought rewards in the recent Test series in Sri Lanka. Playing in India, batting will never be a problem for the hosts. It is the bowling which will require attention. The Proteas have some dangerous batsmen who can win a game on their own. Thus specialist bowlers would come in handy and can pose considerable challenge to the likes of de Villiers, Amla and David Miller. If India manages to restrict the South African batting, facing the South African pace battery on docile Indian tracks won’t be a difficult task. 5. Build a cordial relationship with Virat Kohli (Photo Source: AFP) Media reports and rumours aside, Virat Kohli has always said that he has learnt a lot from MS Dhoni. It is surprising to come to terms with opinions like the Shastri Kohli partnership reducing the role of Dhoni in the dressing room. Dhoni should focus on maintaining a vibrant bonding with the Test skipper Virat which would also help to build a professional team environment. Dhoni enjoyed the confidence of most of the limited overs group and doesn’t need to prove himself to anybody. The mutual trust between Dhoni and Virat would mean that India’s Test and ODI teams do not experience a disconnect when it comes to dressing room atmosphere. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are the personal views and opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of Cricket Tracker and CT does not assume any implied responsibility or liability for the same.