'It seems like India have moved on from MS Dhoni' - RCB's Mike Hesson

India registered a thumping 5-0 win over New Zealand in the just-concluded T20I series. It was sweeter-than-sweet revenge for the Indian supporters whose hearts were left broken by the Kiwis in the semi-final of the ICC World Cup last July.

But at the same time, the die-hard supporters of Mahendra Singh Dhoni could also feel apprehensive that the clean sweep of the Black Caps made it even tougher for the ace wicketkeeper-batsman to return to the national side. Even a good season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year might not be enough for the star player who will turn 39 this year.

Former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson, who witnessed his country getting hammered by the Men in Blue, felt India have moved on from Dhoni who was once considered irreplaceable. KL Rahul, who bagged the man of the series award in the T20I series, has turned out to be India’s star keeper for a few series now besides continuing with his new-found form.

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The cricketing circles kept won wondering about the future of Dhoni after he skipped series after series following India’s premature exit from the World Cup. Speculation remained alive over his return to the national side but it never happened even as Rishabh Pant kept on wasting chances to cement his place in the national side.

Recently, Dhoni was seen returning to the nets and connecting the ball well and it was being predicted that he was eyeing the national side and play in the T20 World Cup after having a blast in the IPL but India’s clinical show in NZ might shatter all imaginations that Dhoni’s supporters had been harbouring.

“It seems like India have moved on. And they have certainly had to put their plans in place for when that (Dhoni’s retirement) happens. I have heard in the press that a lot depends on the IPL in terms of how Dhoni operates. If he is in good touch then obviously he plays but looks like India have moved past MSD at this stage,” said Mike Hesson, who stepped down as the head coach of Kings XI Punjab in the IPL and became Royal Challengers Bangalore’s director for cricket operations, said at the end of the T20I series.

Also speaking on India playing the likes of Shivam Dube and Manish Pandey, Hesson said the Asian powerhouse’s experimentation has paid off.

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