Former India fast bowler and Chennai Super Kings bowling coach L Balaji has stated that MS Dhoni is a great addition to India’s leadership group at the T20 World Cup. He further added that his decision-making skills and calmness will help Virat Kohli’s side in the UAE as well.
Speaking to indiatoday.in, Balaji said that Dhoni’s role as a mentor of the team will only benefit the Indian captain Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri as they look to end a 7-year-long wait for an ICC trophy as well. Notably, on Wednesday, Dhoni was named as India’s mentor for the T20 World Cup as the BCCI has announced a 15-man squad for the mega event, starting October 17 in Oman and the UAE.
“I am very happy. India needs him (Dhoni) in big tournaments. In the recent past, there has been a question since 2013,” L Balaji said. “We have not won any big tournaments in the recent past. So they needed someone who can bring in that extra bit of calmness, guidance and decision-making skills. I feel MS Dhoni’s appointment is very big for Team India.”
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“Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri will definitely benefit. MS Dhoni has had a huge influence in white-ball cricket. Be it captaincy, be it guidance for the youngsters. In big tournaments and big moments, you need someone like MS Dhoni to add a bit of composure. We have seen it happen in Australian cricket. The likes of Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting have helped the team in Ashes in the past,” he shared.
“Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri will be able to gain from Dhoni’s intuitive and on-field decision making. He has also helped transform the likes of Virat himself, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin. MS will have a huge influence, especially when we have a squad filled with talent. This kind of squad needs to be justified by the leadership group,” L Balaji further added.
MS Dhoni was one of India’s most successful captains, who helped India won the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. The only captain who has this record of winning all ICC Trophies.
“Leadership is nowadays multiple roles. It can’t be one man. So Dhoni’s presence and his identity itself is huge. There is always preparation when it comes to pre-match meetings and post-match assessments. But MS Dhoni brings in decision making in the present. That’s where he is far ahead of the rest. When it comes to the World Cups, taking the right decisions at the right time makes a lot of difference. You might have one bad day and the opportunity is gone. All these little things make a huge difference,” L Balaji again shared.
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“That’s why you need someone who has gone through all that. You can’t win trophies without going through that. There must be some science and ability to do that, which India needs at the World Cup. At the moment, everybody is thinking about why this (India winning major trophies) is not happening. So probably, MS Dhoni is the right person for providing guidance. He will be looked at as an added resource for the Indian leadership group. Everybody is going to benefit from the calming influence Dhoni will provide in the dressing room,” L Balaji concluded.
