Breaking his silence over MS Dhoni‘s future in cricket, the former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble finally shared his thoughts over the most talked topic. With Mahendra Singh Dhoni still desisting the national-international cricket arena, several cricket dignities have been taking their stands on his future in the national team.
It has become a big question for everyone in the nation to know whether the voted favourite captain of all will ever return back to the field in the ‘Blue Jersey’. However, a few days back, Dhoni did clear that he would be featuring in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the upcoming two editions to the very least.
The veteran Indian bowler and head coach Anil Kumble, thereafter, feels that Dhoni’s form in the upcoming season of IPL (2020) will likely foretell his future with the national team. Meanwhile, the former Indian skipper and wicketkeeper-batsman himself keeps dodging the question of his return in the national side.
Dhoni has been off the cricket field ever since India’s ouster in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 semi-final against New Zealand.
In the meantime, the team management has been gambling with Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson as the gloveman for the national team. Pant, however, has recently given a worthy performance in the home assignments with West Indies.
Nevertheless, the 22-years-old keeper has always been under the selectors’ watchful eyes. On the other hand, Samson is yet to come down on the field and put forth his case for the selectors to see and judge. However, with the position behind the wickets still not having a strong candidate, there have been questions on Dhoni’s comeback in the future assignments and the ICC tournaments.
Speaking for the same, Kumble cleared out that Dhoni’s stance in the IPL 2020 would give the selectors to decide if they needed his services in the T20 World Cup 2020, which is to be held in Australia later in 2020.
“It’s all about how MS (Dhoni) goes about the IPL and if at all the Indian team believes that they need this services for the World Cup then from there on he may be a part of the team. But we will have to wait and see,” Kumble said as quoted by Times Now.
Meanwhile, talking about the Virat Kohli-led squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Kumble said that the management should look for more bowlers than the all-rounders. According to him, it will be important to scalp more wickets while having Kuldeep and Chahal in the team is a bonus if any such situation arises.
“I certainly believe that you need wicket-taking bowlers and someone like a Kuldeep and Chahal need to be a part of that in my view. Yes, there are instances where you know the ball gets wet because of the dew, then is it right for two wrist-spinners to be there. It is very important that you need to start looking out for wicket-taking options. If it means that you need to bring in just fast bowlers who you believe will pick up wickets, rather than looking at all-rounders, which I think this team is looking for; I think that’s the critical aspect,” Kumble added.
India is due to host a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka that will commence from Jan 5 in Guwahati, Assam. Whereas the team has been winning almost every game ever since Virat Kohli & Co. came out of the World Cup 2019.
