MS Dhoni is India's first choice till 2019 World Cup, clears MSK Prasad

During the T20I series against New Zealand, Dhoni was targeted by his critics as they questioned his batting ability in the shortest format of the game. They marked the former Indian skipper’s struggles while batting and also suggested that selectors should now give chance to the youngsters. In that phase, Dhoni found support in the form of Indian skipper Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri among others. Now, Team India’s chief selector MSK Prasad has clarified that Dhoni will remain the team’s top choice until the end of 2019 World Cup and others would get an opportunities after the tournament.

"I think MS Dhoni still remains the No 1 wicket-keeper in the world and day in and day out we have been saying this. In the current T20 series (against Sri Lanka), the stumpings he has effected and caught-behind he has taken are phenomenal," Prasad said as quoted by PTI.

Since 2006, Dhoni has been played 85 T20I for India and on many occasions, he proved his worth with the bat and has missed a chance to show his skills behind the stumps. Up till now, he has been involved in 76 dismissals including 47 catches and 29 stumpings. The 36-year-old answered all his critics in his own style as in the ongoing T20I series against Sri Lanka, he not only played knock 39 and 28 runs but also took two catches while effecting four stumpings in two games. 

"There is no comparison and I don't see any wicket-keeper, who can even come closer to him in world cricket, leave alone Indian Cricket."

Indian cricket team is focussing on the World Cup and in that process, they are giving chance to young players instead of the regular stars. Prasad cleared that currently there is no player who has the skills to replace Dhoni.

"Let me tell you frankly, those boys still are not up to the level as what we would have expected. We will still be giving them chances on India A tours and see that they are nurtured," Prasad, himself a former India stumper, said.