MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli during India-New Zealand ODIs AFP
MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli during India-New Zealand ODIs AFP

The swords are back looming over MS Dhoni. After his struggle against New Zealand in the second T20I, it became quite evident that the sheen is wearing off. Although he finished with 49 off 37, the inability to up the scoring rate at crucial juncture has put him in a spot of bother. And there trends the question: do India need Dhoni in the shortest format?

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Ajit Agarkar said that there is no time in T20 cricket to settle, something that does not suit Dhoni’s style of play.

‘India should look for other options’

I think India must now look at other options, at least in T20Is. In one-day cricket, they seem to be happy with the role that he is playing. When you were the captain of the side, it was different. But just as a batsman, will India miss him, I don t think so. In T20 cricket, it is lot easier to make that transition as there is lot of experience in that team apart from MS Dhoni now.”

‘Dhoni has been a problem for a while now’

“You had a chance (in the second T20 against New Zealand) if he (Dhoni) had got going immediately but that has been his problem for a while now. It s not tonight or over the last few games. He takes a little bit of time to settle down and in twenty 20 cricket, there is no time. I heard people say that he should bat at different number, but he came into bat in the 10th over in this match. How many times you get to bat 10 overs in T20 cricket and in my opinion, there was enough time.”

VVS Laxman, too, had his thoughts on the matter, although he was too careful with words. He told NDTV that Dhoni’s role is at No. 4 in T20Is.

‘Still an integral part in ODI’

In T20s, MS Dhoni s role is at No 4. He requires more time to get his eye in and then do the job. But today [Saturday] was a classical example because when Virat Kohli was batting, Dhoni had to give strike to Kohli. Kohli s strike rate was 160, MS Dhoni s strike rate was 80. That s not good enough when India were chasing a mammoth total.

I still feel it s time for MS Dhoni to give youngsters a chance in T20 format. It will be an opportunity for a youngster to blossom and get confidence playing international cricket. He is definitely an integral part of ODI cricket.”