Anil Kumble Urges MS Dhoni to Play More to Feature in 2020 T20 World Cup Squad

Former India captain and coach Anil Kumble shared MS Dhoni should play more games if he wants to play in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup next year. However, Kumble is not sure whether MS Dhoni fits in the line-up. Dhoni’s future in international cricket has become a matter of debate when the former captain made himself unavailable for the selection. In Dhoni’s absence, Rishabh Pant has been chosen as the wicketkeeper across formats.

“I’m not really sure. I think Pant has certainly made a lot of claims as a keeper-batsman, especially in the T20 format. So, it’s important to have a conversation and you need to have a proper send-off, he certainly deserves that,” Anil Kumble said to CricketNext when he was asked if he would like to see MS Dhoni in the Indian set-up.

However, it’s only MSK Prasad’s committee who can decide whether they want to add him in the set-up or not. Kumble further said the selectors need to decide within the next couple of months so that India could prepare well for the next big tournament, If Dhoni makes himself unavailable for the tournament, then they could think accordingly.

“…For the team’s sake, the selectors need to sit down and have as discussion around what the plans are because it’s important that things be communicated. If the selectors believe that Dhoni is in the scheme of things for the T20 World Cup, then I think he should be playing every game. If he’s not, then it’s important that they have a discussion around how they need to make this happen. I think they need to do that in the next couple of months,” admitted the highest wicket-taker of India across formats.

However, Kumble also shared that he is not very sure whether Rohit Sharma should open for Test or not.

“You only know when you actually do that but I am not really sure about pushing Rohit at the top unless it is a desperate situation,” he added.

The legendary leg-spinner further urged the team management to find a way to include veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI in the longer format of the game.

“He is still the best spinner that you have. Yes, there have been a few incidents where he has had injuries and not performed to his potential, but Ashwin is your number one spinner in the team. He should be a part of the squad, he should be in the playing XI, you have to make a way of getting him in,” he said.