MS Dhoni has put a clear marker down in the age-versus-performance debate: for him, selection for India should hinge solely on fitness and form — not birth certificates. Speaking plainly, the former captain argued that age should not be used as a shorthand for decline, especially when a player continues to perform and remains physically ready for the demands of international cricket.
“Age is not a criterion,” MS Dhoni said, cutting straight to the point. “Performance, fitness — these are the criteria. So, I always feel nobody should be told anything. … Is age a factor? No. Is fitness a factor? Yes, fitness is a factor. Even if you’re 22 and if you’re not fit, then you have to be fit.” His remarks came in the context of ongoing chatter about whether Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — both veterans in their late thirties — should form part of India’s armoury for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Dhoni’s position is refreshingly simple: let the players decide. If they keep scoring runs or taking wickets, and if they maintain the athletic standards required at the top level, they should be picked.
ALSO READ: Lalit Modi Slams India-Pakistan Boycott As Politics Clouds T20 World Cup Build-Up
“It’s for them to decide,” he said. “If they keep performing, if they have the urge to do well for the country, then why not?” That philosophy flips the selection question away from ageist assumptions and back to the meritocratic ideal every team claims to uphold.
The ex-captain also made the practical point that experience cannot be fast-tracked. You don’t manufacture calm under pressure overnight; it accrues.
🚨 MS DHONI TALKS ABOUT KOHLI AND ROHIT’S FUTURE IN ODIs 🚨
– Age shouldn’t be the criteria, performance and fitness should be the criteria.
– They have played enough cricket to decide what they have to do.
– Each and every player should be treated equally. pic.twitter.com/NbD4wd6Azc— MEER AQIB IQBAL (@MEERAQIBIQBAL1) February 4, 2026
“How do you get experienced people?” MS Dhoni asked rhetorically. “You can’t get a 20-year-old who’s experienced unless it’s Sachin Tendulkar. … You can only get experience if you start playing when you’re 16–17.” His argument: experience is earned through repeated exposure to high-pressure moments — the kind that shape judgment and temperament in tight run chases or death-over scenarios.
MS Dhoni stressed the importance of context: a bowler needs dozens of pressure situations to learn to control his nerves; a middle-order batter must face repeated late-innings pressure to learn the craft of finishing. For him, that means selectors should weigh accumulated exposure alongside current output.
WATCH – Apollo Tyres Launches ‘Har Safar Mein Dum Hai’ Campaign Featuring Team India Stars
Balance, too, remains non-negotiable. MS Dhoni is not advocating a geriatric XI; he wants an intelligent mix of youth and veterans. “I feel the right combination of experience and youthfulness is very important. But not at the cost of fitness,” he said. The message is blunt but sensible: a fit 35-year-old who performs is equivalent to a fit 24-year-old who performs. Treat them equally.
Ultimately, Dhoni’s take is a plea for fairness and clarity: pick players on measurable metrics — runs, wickets, and fitness — and back them. If form dips or fitness flags, replace them. But don’t pre-emptively write off contributors because of age. For a team chasing sustained success, that neutrality — combined with a healthy mix of youth and experience — may be the simplest, most effective selection rule of all.
