We Will Deal With Yuvraj And Dhoni When Time Comes, Says Ravi Shastri

Newly-appointed Team India coach Ravi Shastri has said he is yet to take a decision on the future of the MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh. With the next World Cup just a couple of years, away, several former cricketers including Rahul Dravid has urged the team management to assess the role of the duo which has looked off-colour in recent times.

However, Shastri has said that there is still a fair amount of time left before the next World Cup arrives and insisted that the team management would deal with Yuvraj and Dhoni at the right time.

“2019 is a long way to go. They’re two champion cricketers. We will deal with them when time comes,” Shastri said to India Today. “Will spend time with captain and take things forward. I’ve not spoken to him (Virat Kohli). I will speak to him.”

While there is absolutely no denying the fact that both Dhoni and Yuvraj are two of the finest limited-overs batsmen to play for India, they have failed to perform as per their reputation in recent times. Both the veteran batsmen were a part of the Indian team in the Champions Trophy and the West Indies tour but made little impact. While Yuvraj began the Champions Trophy with a quickfire knock of 53 runs against Pakistan, he followed it with scores of 7, 23* and 22. On the other hand, Dhoni got to bat only twice in the tournament and while he scored 63 in the first one against Sri Lanka, he failed to bail the team out of trouble in the final against Pakistan match as he managed just 4 runs.

On the West Indies tour, Yuvraj scored 4, 14, and 39 in the first three ODIs before missing the next two games. Dhoni, on the other hand, had a decent outing as he played a match winning knock of 78 runs in the third ODI but faced severe criticism for his 114-ball 54 runs knock in the following game which the Men in Blue lost by 11 runs.

Shastri, meanwhile, said that the controversies that has marred the Indian cricket in recent months will not affect the future. Kumble stepped down as coach after a rift with Kohli but Shastri is keen to start afresh.

“I don’t carry baggage, what happened in the past is not my problem. I will start afresh,” he said. “Whatever I discuss with Virat will stay between him and me.”