MS Dhoni's Contribution Will Make a Big Difference in World Cup - Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar believes MS Dhoni’s contribution is going to play a massive role in the World Cup. Dhoni has all the experience under his belt and his role is going to be incumbent to India’s success. In fact, India’s top three batsmen Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan have done the lion share of the scoring. Hence, Sunil Gavaskar believes MS Dhoni’s contribution will be pivotal in the batting order.

In fact, Dhoni is in fine form in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League. The talisman batsman has thus far scored 358 runs for the defending champions Chennai Super Kings. Dhoni has scored his runs with a sublime average of 119.33 and strike rate of 142.63. Consequently, Dhoni would like to carry the same form going in the upcoming World Cup.

Dhoni is going to hold the key.

“I think it will be very important because we have a fabulous top-three. But in case the top-three don’t make their usual contribution, then Dhoni’s contribution down the order, whether it’s at number four or five, will make a big difference in India posting a defendable total,” Gavaskar told PTI on Thursday.

On the other hand, MS Dhoni is like a ninja behind the stumps as he can remove the bails in a jiffy. Dhoni has the fastest hands in the game and he can covert even a half chance in the World Cup.

“We have seen the wicket-keeping skills that he has. But more importantly as somebody who stands close to the wicket, guiding the spinners where to bowl, guiding the other bowlers also where to ball and making those little field adjustments,” he elaborated.

Furthermore, Virat Kohli generally fields in the outfield in the death over as he is a gun fielder. Thus, MS Dhoni takes the responsibility of setting up the field. Dhoni and Kohli have great mutual respect for each other and Dhoni’s helping hand is a great advantage for the Indian captain.

“Kohli, whose brilliant fielding makes it imperative for him to stand in the deep, at long-off/long-on may be, is unable to see those little changes of the backward point fielder moving a little bit to his right or little bit to his left, similarly square-leg fielder moving.

“So those are the kind of changes Dhoni will be able to bring about with Kohli’s, of course, full backing as well,” Sunil Gavaskar explained.

MS Dhoni has been a great servant of Indian cricket and he would like to bring his best to the table. He has all the experience under his belt and would like to carry the same form going.