While the men in blue are now rooting for the upcoming World T20 in 2020, there's a question on everyone's mind is whether Dhoni will take that flight. However, Indian head coach Ravi Shastri wants one and all to wait, till the IPL.
“It all depends on when he starts playing and how he is playing during the IPL. What are the other people doing with the wicket-keeping gloves or what is the form of those players as opposed to Dhoni's form? The IPL becomes a massive tournament because that could be the last tournament after which more or less your 15 is decided,” Indian coach Ravi Shastri was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.
“There might be one player who might be there and thereabouts in case of an injury or whatever. But your team I would say would be known after the IPL. What I would say is rather than speculating of who is where, wait for the IPL to get over and then you are in a position to take a call on who are the best 17 in the country,” he added.
In Dhoni’s absence, the team management has been nurturing young wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant for a longer run. However, the latter failed to create a difference in recent face-offs.
Pant’s poor batting and a couple of DRS howlers have put him under the fire but the Indian head coach knows how to churn out the best out of the youngster.
“Just tell him that you are young and nobody expects you to learn everything in one day. You are bound to make mistakes, but as long as you sit down and think about ways to rectify those mistakes, you know that is what this game will teach you. You are not going to be a superstar in one day. You will have your ups and your downs. That is life, but the more you work harder, the more the sacrifices you make, the better you will become,” he said.
India's next mission comprises of a 3-match T20I series followed by as many ODIs against the Windies. The rubber kickstarts from December 6 in Hyderabad.
(With Inputs From IANS)