T20 World Cup 2021: MS Dhoni’s Appointment As Team India Mentor A Masterstroke - Salman Butt

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt called MS Dhoni’s appointment by BCCI as the mentor of the Indian team selected for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021, as a masterstroke. According to Butt, Dhoni’s wealth of experience and success can inspire the Indian team.

The BCCI on Wednesday named the 15-member Indian squad for the T20 World Cup. The team saw many surprises as the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Yuzvendra Chahal were completely excluded from the main squad, while Shreyas Iyer and Deepak Chahar were named as reserve players.

Ravichandran Ashwin and Akshar Patel were the surprise inclusions in the main squad which also saw Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav being backed in the main squad.

MS Dhoni Played A Major Role In Developing India’s Current Mindset: Salman Butt

Salman Butt was extremely happy with the news of BCCI secretary Jay Shah announcing that MS Dhoni had said yes to mentor the Indian team for the T20 World Cup 2021 squad. This will be the first time India won’t be captained by Dhoni in the T20 World Cup, something he did from the inaugural edition in 2007 to the last edition in 2016 which was held in India.

“MS Dhoni has dealt with pressure and is someone who has won a lot for his country. Dhoni played a major role in developing India’s current mindset. Under him, India have won the T20 World Cup and the 50-over World Cup as well. So, his presence will inspire the team a lot. When teams find themselves in difficult situations, such players can be of great help. Whoever was behind the move, it is a masterstroke,” Butt said on his YouTube channel.

Salman Butt further said that the youngsters in the Indian team should benefit from the presence of the former India captain.

“When an IPL match ends, we have often seen players from both sides, including seniors, gathering around him and chatting with him. Dhoni’s presence in the dressing room will definitely be a cushion for the players when they find themselves under pressure or in unknown situations,” he added.

India will play Pakistan in their ICC T20 World Cup 2021 tournament opener on October 24 in Dubai.

Also Read: BCCI President Sourav Ganguly Thanks MS Dhoni For Accepting The Role Of Mentor For T20 World Cup 2021