It is confirmed that former Indian skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, would be a part of Team India for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. However, Dhoni’s batting position in the Indian squad is up for debates. While Indian skipper Virat Kohli feels the best position for Dhoni to bat is number five, his deputy, Rohit Sharma, believes the Ranchi wicket-keeper batsman could do wonders while batting at number four.
Now former Indian skipper and coach Anil Kumble has shared his take on the ideal position for Dhoni to bat. Kumble, who has seen a lot of MS Dhoni over the years, feels that the wicket-keeper batsman should be pushed to the number four position if India loses quick wickets.
“I think there is a lot of talk especially when MS comes into the batting line up. About not having to go all the way and win matches. He has done that in Australia, he has done that many number of times. I still believe that he is someone who can bat at number four. If India is in trouble, push him up. He will take his time, you need that and then he has the experience so that he makes sure he bats till the end. And others can be a bit positive around him. I think that is the role he will play and his experience is really needed not just in front of the stumps and also behind the stumps,” Kumble was quoted as saying to Cricket Next.
Kumble also further insisted that there should be no debate over MS Dhoni’s position or availability, but the team should instead focus on getting the results in their favour.
“I think that with the amount of experience he possesses there should not be any talk now about MS Dhoni or his batting. It is all about how he can go out there and contribute to the World Cup. Leading up to the World Cup, these five matches in India and of course the IPL is there for him. So I think there is plenty of white ball cricket he will be involved in as well. So that should help him in getting into his rhythm,” Kumble added.