Gautam Gambhir names 3 players who can succeed MS Dhoni | Photo Credit: AP

Key Highlights MS Dhoni was expected to retire after ICC World Cup 2019 Gautam Gambhir has said that a practical decision should be taken Gambhir named three players who could succeed Dhoni

There has been a lot of talks surrounding MS Dhoni’s future. Will Dhoni retire soon or will the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman continue till the World T20 in 2020? While many cricket experts and former cricketers predicted that Dhoni will retire after the conclusion of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2019, there has been no update on the veteran gloveman since India’s exit from the quadrennial tournament. Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has named three players who should be groomed for the future as he feels the time is up for the former Indian captain.

Gambhir stated that when Dhoni was the captain of the team, he invested in the future while citing the 2012 CB series between India and Australia wherein Dhoni wanted Sachin, Gambhir and Sehwag to be dropped from the team due to their fielding abilities and fitness. Gambhir added that it is time to take a practical decision rather than being driven by emotional sentiments.

If not MS Dhoni then who?

Furthermore, Gambhir mentioned the names of Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, who should be groomed for the future. The former Indian cricketer-turned-politician stated that a player has to be given chances for at least one-and-a-half years to know whether he is the perfect pick for the next World Cup.

“It’s important to look into the future. And when Dhoni was the skipper, he invested in the future. I remember Dhoni saying in Australia that me, Sachin and Sehwag can’t play the CB series together as the grounds were big. He wished for young players for the World Cup. It’s necessary to take practical decisions than being emotional,” Gambhir said in a TV show.

“And it’s time to groom youngsters. Be it Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan or any other wicketkeeper, whoever is believed to have the potential should be made the wicket-keeper. Give him chances for one and half-years and if he doesn’t perform, then others should be tried out as well. Then one would get to know who the keeper for the next World Cup is,” Gambhir added.

After India’s untimely exit from the ICC World Cup 2019, the Men in Blue will now shift their focus towards the upcoming tour of West Indies which is scheduled to start from August 3 onwards. The Indian team was slated to be announced on July 19 (Friday) but due to some changes made by the Committee of Administrators (CoA), it will now be announced on July 20 (Saturday) or July 21 (Sunday).