XtraTime Web Desk: Ahead of India’s first T20I of three-match series against South Africa, India skipper Virat Kohli lauded veteran wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni, saying ‘he always thinks about Indian cricket and there is no replacement for experience’.
Dhoni is not a part of the team squad for the three-match series against South Africa. The wicket-keeper was criticised during the World Cup for batting with a slow strike-rate.
“Experience is always going to matter whether you like it or not. Many players have proven in the past that age is just a number and even Dhoni has done that a lot in his career. One thing great about him is that he thinks for Indian cricket. When to stop playing cricket, is completely an individual decision. No one should give opinions regarding the matter,” Kohli told reporters.
Earlier this week, Kohli had posted a picture with Dhoni on Instagram. The skipper remembered 2016 T20 World Cup match against Australia and said that Dhoni made him run like crazy in the match.
However, after the post, netizens were quick to draw conclusions and Dhoni’s retirement rumours flooded the internet. However, later, Dhoni’s wife Sakshi cleared the air, saying “it’s just rumours”.
“I did not have anything on my mind, I was just sitting at my home and I just uploaded the picture. It became news, it is a lesson for me about what I think about myself, the world does not necessarily see it that way. That game is very special, I have not openly talked about it so that is why I uploaded the picture but people took it otherwise,” Kohli said.