Time to look beyond Dhoni in T20 Internationals: Agarkar
Hours after India fell to a 40-run defeat in their tie against New Zealand on Saturday, former India fast bowler Ajit Agarkar suggested that the team should look beyond MS Dhoni in the shortest format.
Sharing his views in a chat on ESPNCricinfo, Agarkar made scathing remarks on Dhoni, stating that the time he takes to settle down isn’t pardonable in T20 format. Coming in to bat with the side reeling at 67 for four and another 130 required in 65 deliveries, Dhoni got off to a sluggish start and found the fence only after playing nine deliveries. He did launch a couple of towering sixes but his run-a-ball effort to reach 28, meant India required 65 off the final 12 deliveries.
Stating that Dhoni is no longer a part of the side as a captain anymore, Agarkar went on to add that there are perhaps better options the team can fall back on as a batsman in the T20 format.
“It might still have been difficult to chase down that score. You had a chance if he got going In T20 cricket, it’s always easier to move on. I mean a younger player can always make a difference AJIT AGARKAR, Ex-India pacer immediately but that’s been his problem for a while,” he said.
“I mean, it’s not (just) tonight, over the last few games he takes a little bit of time and in T20 cricket there is no time. He’s come in to bat in the 10th over. How many times do you get to bat in a T20 game? So that’s enough time for any batsman. I think India need to look at other options for T20 cricket for sure. In one day cricket, it seems they’re happy with the role that he’s playing but in T20, when he was captain it was different, but just as a batsman, will India miss him? I don’t think so.”
Advocating for younger players, Agarkar stated the transition would be easier given it’s easier to adapt to the T20 format. “I think in T20 cricket it’s easier to make the transition since it’s such a shortened format. There’s enough experience in that team apart from MS Dhoni now. So in T20 cricket I think India need to look at other options for sure,” he said. “It’s not necessarily because of the innings tonight, that’s the way he’s been batting for a while. In T20 cricket it’s always easier to move on. I mean a younger player can always make a difference.”