Selectors need to make a call soon on MS Dhoni’s future, reckons Anil Kumble
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Anil Kumble stated that he is not certain whether Dhoni should continue to be in the set-up with the rise of Rishabh Pant but feels that a decision needs to be made soon to have time to prepare for the World T20. He also talked about Rohit Sharma as a Test opener and Ashwin’s inclusion in the team.
Questions about MS Dhoni’s place in the Indian team have been making rounds ever since the World Cup concluded, with the debate being whether the veteran should continue to play or if it’s time for the next generation to take over. With the 38-year-old currently on a two-month hiatus, Rishabh Pant has been filling in the gloves and Anil Kumble has weighed in on the matter as well.
"I'm not really sure. I think Pant has certainly made a lot of claims as a keeper-batsman, especially in the T20 format. So, it's important to have a conversation and you need to have a proper send-off, he certainly deserves that," TOI quoted Kumble as saying to CricketNext.
However, 21-year-old Pant has failed to impress as much as one expects of a first team player and apart from a few good innings, he has not really delivered. There are other options available as well for the selectoes such as Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson.
"But having said that, Pant has also shown some inconsistency. That's a call the selectors need to make. Today, in spite of all of that, are you going to back him (Pant) or someone else, or would you look back. I wouldn't but I think it's important that the selectors take a call on that," Kumble stated.
The MSK Prasad led committee will be aiming to finalize a squad as soon as possible for next year’s marquee event, the ICC World T20.
"...For the team's sake, the selectors need to sit down and have as discussion around what the plans are because it's important that things be communicated. If the selectors believe that Dhoni is in the scheme of things for the T20 World Cup, then I think he should be playing every game. If he's not, then it's important that they have a discussion around how they need to make this happen. I think they need to do that in the next couple of months," the former skipper added.
As far as the Test setup as concerned, Kumble felt that playing Rohit Sharma as an opener in the long format might be a risky move even though the current openers’ performances are not as per required standards.
"You only know when you actually do that but I am not really sure about pushing Rohit at the top unless it is a desperate situation. Yes, are we in a desperate situation where we are looking for an opener in someone who has done well at the domestic level. Yes, he is a high-quality player sitting on the bench, should he be pushed at the top?" he said.
Of late, Ravichandran Ashwin has found it hard to find a place in the team too, with the likes of Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav preferred over him. Kumble doesn’t agree with this decision.
"He is still the best spinner that you have. Yes, there have been a few incidents where he has had injuries and not performed to his potential, but Ashwin is your number one spinner in the team. He should be a part of the squad, he should be in the playing XI, you have to make a way of getting him in,” he concluded.
