Veteran Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh believes icon MS Dhoni’s keenness to improve his skills and remain intensely involved in the game is the reason why the former India captain has been able to play cricket for so many years. Yuvraj, who reportedly has made up his mind to announce retirement from international and first class cricket, said that what makes Dhoni a ferocious wicket-keeper is his unique skill to keep a sharp mind throughout the course of the game.

''When you have played international cricket for so many years, there will be times when you are not batting well. The best thing is that his mind is very sharp and he knows when to take singles or when to go for big shots," Yuvraj said while talking to Hindustan Times.

India began their World Cup campaign on a shaky note, losing to New Zealand by six wickets in a warm-up match. Despite quitting ODI and T20 captaincy in 2017, three years after he retired from Test cricket, Dhoni still remains the cricketing brain behind the Indian team, something even skipper Virat Kohli has acknowledged.

Head coach Ravi Shastri had also said Dhoni will have a massive role in India's bid to regain the World Cup, harping on the veteran's ability to influence the game's little moments.

"Massive as it has always been," Shastri told reporters when asked what he thinks would be Dhoni's role in the ICC's upcoming showpiece.

"He is right there, his communication has been fantastic. As a keeper, he has shown over the years that no one is better than him in this format, not just in taking catches, inflicting those run-outs or stumping, these are little moments in the game which can change it on the head and there was no one better than him," he said.