New Delhi:
Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday made it crystal clear that Mahendra Singh Dhoni remains a crucial part of the One Day International (ODI) team and the former World Cup winning captain decided not to play the upcoming T20Is, only to give more chances to young southpaw Rishabh Pant. Whereas cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has said that he does not know the mindset of the selectors and whatever happens in the dressing room should stay there.
“I think the selectors have already addressed this if I’m not wrong. And he’s been spoken to, firstly... So, I don’t see any reason why I should be sitting here and explaining that. I think the selectors have come out and explained exactly what happened,” said Kohli at the post-match press conference after guiding India to yet another home series win.
“I was not part of that conversation so... It is what the selectors explained. I think people are putting too much variables into the situation, which is not the case I can assure you of that. He’s still a very integral part of this team and he just feels that in the T20 format, someone like Rishabh can get more chances.”
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MS Dhoni was dropped from the upcoming T20I series against West Indies and Australia, which created a storm over social media. There is a possibility that Dhoni will never play for the Men in Blue again in the shortest format of the game.
“He anyway plays the ODIs for us regularly, so... From that point of view, he’s only trying to help the youngsters; nothing that anything that other people are thinking and I as captain can certainly assure you of that,” Kohli said.
Kohli went on to praise youngster Khaleel Ahmed after being impressed with his bowling efforts. The Man of the Series for the ODI series against the Windies, Kohli heaped praise on Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja and added that it was a collective team effort.
While reacting on the decision of MS Dhoni getting dropped from the T20I squad, Sachin Tendulkar said that he has not looked to influence anyone by giving opinion, and don’t know what is the mindset of the selectors.
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“I don’t know what’s the mindset of the selectors is & I haven’t looked to influence anyone by giving opinions as what happens in dressing room & between captain, coach & selectors should stay within them,” Sachin Tendulkar said as reported by News Agency ANI.
I don’t know what’s the mindset of the selectors is & I haven’t looked to influence anyone by giving opinions as what happens in dressing room & between captain, coach & selectors should stay within them: Sachin Tendulkar on MS Dhoni dropped from T20 squad pic.twitter.com/BymXG1rHw8
— ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2018
The Virat Kohli-led Team India clinched the ODI series by 3-1 after winning the 5th ODI by 9 wickets.
Here is the Indian Team for three-match T20I series against Windies:
Rohit Sharma (C), Shikhar, KL Rahul, DK, Manish, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed, Umesh Yadav, Shahbaz Nadeem
