MS Dhoni’s calmness was one of the reasons why India won World Cup, says Sanjay Manjrekar

The Indian cricket team will go up against a determined Australia team who will look to avenge their 2-1 Test series loss to the visitors ahead of the upcoming three-match ODI series. The Indian team will face a selection dilemma as they will have to opt between using Rishabh Pant and MS Dhoni in the ODI team to face the Aussies. 

Pant impressed in the recently concluded Test series as he ended the campaign as India’s second highest run-getter against the Aussies which makes him a strong contender for a spot in the limited-overs team. However, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar asserted that the Indian team will need MS Dhoni’s experience in the coming months.

“It is a real dilemma because Pant seems to have all the ingredients needed to make it to the team, but Dhoni’s performance would be watched. I would personally like to see if Dhoni is able to win matches as frequently as he used to. Watch his performance very closely.

“One thing that goes in favour of Dhoni is that because this is the World Cup, you need somebody with his level of calmness. In 2011, Dhoni’s calmness was one of the main reasons why India won the World Cup. His calmness on the big stage is going to be a big source of strength,” Manjrekar, who is a panellist on broadcaster Sony's live studio show, told TOI on Friday.

One of the shock inclusions in the ODI squad for the three-match series was Kolkata Knight Riders wicketkeeper-batsman, Dinesh Karthik. But Manjrekar reckons that the Karnataka cricketer should be considered only for the T20 format. 

“I am actually surprised by Dinesh Karthik’s selection because he lost his place after the Asia Cup and I look at him as an extremely valuable player in T20 cricket. I believe that India should move on with Karthik when it comes to Test and ODI cricket. They should look to use him in T20s,” Manjrekar added.

Another issue that the Indian team will need to address was the dilemma regarding wrist spinners - Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. 

“Both Chahal and Kuldeep should play straight away because if India’s fortunes have changed in ODI cricket after the Champions Trophy (2017), it’s because of the impact of Kuldeep and Chahal. Both of them would be in my starting XI and Jadeja would be sort of an option. They have had match-winning performances in a number of games and should not be losing their place that easily,” added Manjrekar.

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