Kris Srikkanth backs MS Dhoni for World Cup, says he is an automatic choice

MS Dhoni somewhat settled the debate going around over his place in the Indian ODI side for good after he guided the team to a well-fought win over the Aussies in Adelaide. The veteran finished the match in his old style smacking left-arm bowler Jason Behrendorff over a long on boundary for a six and then taking a brisk single to complete the 299-run chase.

Just a game before- in the first ODI, the 37-year-old was criticized for playing a slow inning where he took 96 balls to score 51 as India went down by 34 runs. Stats show that the effectiveness of the Ranchi-born cricketer has gone down as he has managed to score 326 runs in 21 games at 27.16 since January 2018. In this period, his strike rate, 67.77, is the worst in the middle order which has led to heavy criticism among his critics.

With Rishabh Pant already knocking the doors with his exceptional performances recently, the pressure on former Indian skipper keeps on piling to perform and finish the matches for the team as he did in Adelaide. However, the selectors are facing the heat from the former players over the row about who should they pick for World Cup in England, Dhoni or Pant?

Former Indian wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer has recently backed the young Pant over Dhoni for the World Cup as he believes that the left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman has performed really well to safeguard his place and he should be an automatic choice for India in all three formats of the game. However, ex-chief selector Kris Srikkanth is of the opinion that Dhoni should be an automatic choice considering his experience.

He’ll be a guiding factor on the field

Srikkanth was quoted as saying to TOI, “If I was the chairman of the selection committee, I would pick him for the 2019 World Cup for sure. The World Cup is a different cup of the team altogether, where we will need a senior cricketer like him. He’ll be a guiding factor on the field to the captain and the team. His importance will be felt in crunch situations. He may not be the big hitter he was before…that’s a different issue, but he’s still got it in him.”

The 59-year-old believes that Dhoni’s presence in the team will be vital as he brings a whole bundle of experience with him to tackle difficult situations and is going to be an integral member in the tournament as big as World Cup. The former opener thinks that there could be a space to play both Dhoni and Pant for the mega-event.

“You have to see the importance of Dhoni as a package-not just as a batsman or a wicketkeeper. Debates and ups and downs will always be there. You’ll be a hero in one match and a zero in another. That’s part and parcel of series. Pant can be in a team as a batsman. Even with Dhoni being in the side. Pant is very good and will be a big contender for a spot.  ” Srikkanth sums up.

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