Internet Desk: Once a firm supporter of MS Dhoni’s captaincy in limited overs and T20 format, Sourav Ganguly has raised question marks on his future in the post. The former India captain in his show on India Today raised concerns about Dhoni continuing as captain till the 2019 World Cup.
According to Ganguly, “My point is that what selectors need to think is that three years down the line or four years down the line when the World Cup is going to happen, do they see MS Dhoni as captain of India. Does he have the ability in the next four years to see India into that World Cup in 2019? He has already given up Test cricket.”
However, Sourav defended Dhoni’s poor run in IPL 9 as captain and attributed his failure due to switching to a new franchise. To make matters worse the franchise was badly hit with injuries to star players like Steve Smith, Faf du Plesis, Mitchell Marsh and Kevin Pietersen.
“To be honest, he has come under fire but that’s because he has gone to a new franchise, new team. His side has not been the same as it has been before with the Chennai Super Kings. You got to take that into consideration,” the left-hander said.
Virat Kohli, who replaced Dhoni as the captain of the test team has done well. More so he has led from the front with his performance on the field. “Coming to Virat Kohli, he has been exceptional. He is one of the best in the world at the moment. Whatever you have seen him as Test captain,it has been phenomenal,” said Ganguly.
Sourav does feel for Dhoni as he has been leading the Indian team for 13 years with aplomb. “Dhoni has been captain for nine years, which is a long period. Does he have it in him to go for another four years? Do the selectors think he has got in him to go another four years and be captain of a country for 13 years and take them to the 2019 World Cup? I am not so sure. That’s the decision selectors will have to make.”
Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) are on the brink of elimination in their Indian Premier League (IPL) debut. If and when it happens, questions are likely to be raised over the captaincy and batting form of MS Dhoni.