Australian cricket legend Adam Gilchrist feels India's ODI and T20 captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni should be left alone to take a call regarding his future in international cricket as he has "earned" this right.
On the sidelines of an interactive session with school kids here on Thursday, Gilchrist, who is now Australia's Education Ambassador to India, told reporters that the Indian skipper has "earned the rights" to take decisions on his own.
"I don't like the fact that at this stage of a player's career, journalists or even the public start asking these questions. I don't see any evidence that he (Dhoni) is not upto the standards. He doesn't get too many decisions wrong. There was a time when he felt that it was time for Test cricket when everyone asked 'why'. Similarly, he would take a call on limited overs cricket too," said the former wicketkeeper.
Speculations are rife that Rahul Dravid might take over the duty of coaching the Indian team.
'Gilly' feels that the 43-year-old former India batsman fits the bill perfectly.
"Rahul's cricketing experience as a batsman or as a mentor or as a cricket mind is on par with anyone else in the world. I watched with interest when he took charge of the U-19 Indian team in the world cup and achieved considerable success. I wouldn't be surprised if it falls on him," quipped the swashbuckling left-handed batsman, who also ruled out any possibilities of him donning the hat of a coach anytime soon.
"I have no aspirations to become a coach. I coach my son's U-14 team and that itself is a big challenge," said the 44-year-old.
Gilchrist feels that in spite of the recent controversies, IPl remains a prize catch in the world of cricket.
"Players have benefitted from the IPl. It's lucrative financially. From an administrative point of view, it has had its ups and downs. Hopefully, a consistent model can be worked out," he elaborated.
The owner of 17 Test hundreds though agree that T20 cricket has affected the playing style of classical Test batsmen.
"Yes, it has affected the style of playing Test cricket. Batsmen are moving away from the traditional technique. But, it's inevitable. You still have examples such as Kane Williamson who has got a lovely technique and has still been successful in all three formats. But, that doesn't mean that someone who has a traditional technique would be rendered ineffective," he told PTI.
"The pace of the game has changed. The 50-over game contributed to that in the 90s and it's probably been fast-tracked again. But, I don't think it's a bad thing. People in this day and age want to be entertained," Gilchrist said.
"Occasionally, we get wickets that are so batsman-friendly that bowlers hardly have a chance but there are other extremes as well. A middle path has to be found," said the former Deccan Chargers player.
Gilchrist doesn't see himself being a full-time coach with the Indian team but is very much open to making an IPl comeback in whatever role possible.
Gilchrist, who played his last IPl in 2013 when he also doubled up as the coach of Kings XI Punjab, said he has loved his experience in the world's most popular T20 league. "Coaching a team full-time is probably unlikely. I am not really seeing myself as a coach but may be some involvement down the track in the IPl," Gilchrist told.
"I don't see myself in any full time role and with the BCCI, you really need to commit full time which is understandable but at the moment I am open to opportunities in IPl down the track. I have loved my experience in the IPl," he said.