India Need MS Dhoni To Perform At His Best In The World Cup: Shane Warne

Legendary spinner Shane Warne definitely knows a thing or two about winning the World Cup. The former Australia leg-spinner was a part of the team that dismantled Pakistan in the final of the 1999 World Cup to win the coveted title. That Australian team was full of experienced players and Warne feels experience does play a big role in making a team world champions. Thinking on the same lines, the former leg-spinner believes MS Dhoni will play a big role for India in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019.

Dhoni is by far the most experienced player in the Indian team right now. The 37-year old, who had made his debut in 2004, is also well aware of what needs to be done to win the World Cup, having led India to the coveted title in 2011. Recently, chief selector MSK Prasad had also said that Dhoni would be India’s most important player in the World Cup because of his experience.

“If you are going to win World Cups and I have been in a few and won a few, you need your best and most experienced players to perform. If they perform, you will win the World Cup. So India need MS Dhoni to perform at his best in the World Cup. India need him in the team,” Shane Warne told India Today.

Not very long ago, Dhoni’s place in the team was in question because of his poor form. He had managed to score just 275 runs in 20 ODIs last year. His strike-rate and average in 2018 was his worst-ever in a calendar year since his debut in 2004. However, Dhoni has started the World Cup-year on a bang. He scored three consecutive fifties to guide India to a historic series win in Australia. His performance has very much settled the debate over his selection.

“Dhoni has always done what is best for the team, whether it is bat at No. 4,5,6. Whatever the state of the game, the match situation, he will adapt. If you need 10 runs an over, he will adapt. He will do it, it’s a proven fact. He doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. They need him in the team because he will deliver because he is class,” Shane Warne said.

The World Cup, meanwhile, will start on May 30 with hosts England taking on South Africa in the opener. India will start their campaign on June 5 against South Africa.