The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League was set to be a testing ground for former skipper MS Dhoni. While some felt he was past his prime, head coach Ravi Shastri had made it clear that the IPL will decide Dhoni’s fate along with some others who were vying for a spot in the team for the Twenty20 World Cup at the end of the year.
Speaking on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected, Srikkanth said: “I am not going to be diplomatic. I am talking about if I was the chairman of the selection committee, what would I do. If the IPL does not happen then his chances are very, very bleak. Because straightaway, in my opinion, KL Rahul will be the wicketkeeper-batsman. Rishabh Pant, I still think he might be a bit of a doubt, but I believe that Rishabh Pant is highly talented.
“So, I wouldn’t mind taking him along with the squad, but definitely, if the IPL doesn’t happen, then Dhoni will have a difficult time getting back into the team for the T20 World Cup. Let’s be very honest about it. He is absolutely fit, he is a legend, he is brilliant. I am a great fan of Dhoni myself. But the question is for the World Cup team. So you’ll have to put the Indian team first and then the individuals.”
Meanwhile Gautam Gambhir has backed former India star all-rounder Yuvraj Singh claim that there is not enough role models in the current Indian team besides Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, adding that the line of respect for seniors has become thin.
“I agree with Yuvraj that there is a dearth of role models in the Indian team currently, like in the 2000s, we had Dravid, Kumble, Laxman, Sourav and Sachin to guide the team. It is important to have senior players around you who can help you when you're going through a rough patch. Right now, I don’t think there are enough seniors in the Indian camp, who will set aside their self-interest to help youngsters,” he said.