MS Dhoni deserves a proper send-off: Anil Kumble
Former Indian cricket team coach Anil Kumble has stated that veteran wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni deserves a proper send-off. Dhoni sat out of the limited-overs series against West Indies. He is also set to miss the upcoming T20Is against South Africa. Kumble feels that the selectors need to sit down with Dhoni and engage in a conversation. Here's more.
India have identified Rishabh Pant as the man to lead the wicket-keeping role. The Indian team management and the selectors want to give Pant enough chances with the ICC World T20 in mind. It is unknown whether Dhoni fits into the current scheme of things. Kumble also highlighted the same and stated that a conversation is needed to discuss the scenario.
"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," Kumble told CricketNext.
The issue with Pant has been his inconsistency factor. Kumble has urged the selectors to make a call. "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."
The World T20 is set to be held in 2020. India have started their preparations for the same. Kumble feels it will be crucial to sit down with Dhoni and outline the plans. He stated that it's important to have communication and believes that if Dhoni is in the scheme of things, then he should be playing more frequently.
"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," Kumble said. "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."
It is Dhoni's decision on what he wants to do regarding his future. If he intends to carry on till the World T20, then it's a welcome move. Dhoni is still the best keeper India have and he still has some cricket left in him. If Dhoni feels he cannot offer anything much, then the selectors should give him a proper farewell.
