Michael Clarke Speaks On MS Dhoni's Future
Updated - 19 May 2019, 05:16 PM
With speculations surrounding MS Dhoni‘s future viciously doing the rounds in recent months, former Australia skipper Michael Clarke has given his own thought on how long the former India skipper can ply his trade in international cricket.
Dhoni was under severe pressure to do well with the bat for a good amount of time but he has managed to turn it around in the last couple of series. He scored 162 runs in four innings in Sri Lanka without getting out even once and recently played a decisive 79-runs knock in the series-opener against Australia. And while his performances have impressed one and all to a certain extent, Clarke is so impressed with Dhoni that he feels the World Cup-winning skipper would not only play the 2019 World Cup but would also feature in the next one in 2023.
“Don’t ask me whether he will play in the 2019 World Cup. He will play in 2023,” Clarke said on a lighter vein.
Meanwhile, Team India head coach Ravi Shastri has thrown his support behind the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman and has made it clear that he is still the best wicketkeeper in the world.
“Dhoni is still the best wicketkeeper in the world and he is the quickest. The break from Test cricket has been great for Dhoni. He is an asset to the Indian team. He is an elder statesman in the dressing room,” Shastri had said earlier this month.
Previously, Shastri had also dismissed reports that Dhoni’s future with the Indian team is in doubt.
“MS Dhoni is a massive influence on the team. He is a living legend in the dressing room and an ornament to the game. By no means or by any stretch of imagination he is finished or even half finished yet,” Shastri had said. “If anyone thinks so, they are mistaken and they have another one coming. There are in for some surprises. The old dog has plenty to offer.”
“He is the best in the country. Would you look to replace Sunil Gavaskar when he was 36 years old or Sachin Tendulkar when he was 36? Dhoni is still the best in the business, so what is the need to even entertain those thoughts,” he had added.
