MS Dhoni should not be sidelined in a hurry, he is still number one wicketkeeper: Mohammad Kaif

[Gollum]

MS Dhoni shouldn't be sidelined in a hurry, KL Rahul not a long term option

 

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/ms-dhoni-shouldnt-be-sidelined-in-a-hurry-kl-rahul-not-a-long-term-wicket-keeping-option-mohammad-kaif/articleshow/75861673.cms

 

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/article/ms-dhoni-should-not-be-sidelined-in-a-hurry-he-is-still-number-one-wicketkeeper-mohammad-kaif/595058

 

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KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Mohammad Kaif has backed MS Dhoni to make a comeback into the national team
• Kaif said that KL Rahul isn't a full-time wicketkeeper
• Rahul has been Team India's first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman in 2020

 

The team management's experiment to use KL Rahul as full-time wicketkeeper-batsman has been successful so far. The right-handed batsman scored 146 runs in three ODIs against Australia and with 224 runs, he finished as the top run-scorer in five T20Is against New Zealand. Rahul scored 204 runs in three ODIs that followed and was also highly praised for his wicketkeeping skills.

 

The 28-year-old has been backed to keep gloves on a full-time basis but he isn't a long-term option for Mohammad Kaif. Speaking to Timesofindia.com, the former India batsman opined that Rahul should be a backup option and should only keep wickets if a regular wicketkeeper is injured.

 

"There has been no replacement. So many players have been tried in place of Dhoni. I don't think KL Rahul is a long-term option. He should always be the back-up wicket-keeper, if a keeper gets injured then Rahul should keep wickets. So you have to groom another keeper. Even Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson haven't been able to take the place of Dhoni,” he said.

 

Further backing Dhoni to make a comeback, Kaif said the former India captain is amazingly fit and should not be sidelined in a hurry. Dhoni has been away from competitive cricket since July 2019.

 

“When you talk of Sachin, Dravid, you have had replacements like Kohli, Rohit, Rahane, Pujara. They have filled that void. But it hasn't been the case with Dhoni. So I think Dhoni is still the number one wicket-keeper. He is amazingly fit and he should not be sidelined in a hurry," he added.

 

Dhoni, who will be an automatic selection in the playing XI if he returns, was set to end his self-imposed sabbatical in IPL 2020 but the tournament has been delayed for an indefinite period. His performances for Chennai Super Kings could have seen him make his return for T20 World Cup.

 

In his absence, the team management first backed Rishabh Pant to take over gloves on a full-time basis. Despite Rishabh's inconsistent run with the bat, the team management stuck with him and only decided to move on once he was ruled out.

 

Surprisingly, he did not get a chance in any of the eight white-ball matches in New Zealand and looks set to sit out of the playing XI for a long time.

 

@velu before you yet again, Rhiti should simply fire you. 

[Rasgulla]

He is coming back!