New Delhi: Former Indian skipper and cricketing legend Sourav Ganguly is doubtful over Mahendra Singh Dhoni's future as Indian cricket captain in the limited over format.
In an interview to a leading media group, Ganguly said that he does not think that the current limited overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has it in him to last till the 2019 World Cup.
Pitching Test skipper Virat Kohli as the new Indian ODI captain, Ganguly said that it is high time that Indian selectors move over MS Dhoni, under whom India won the ICC World T20 in 2007 and the 50-over World Cup in 2011.
"Every cricket team in the world plans their future. But my question to the selectors is three-four years down the line, do they see M.S. Dhoni as captain of India?," Ganguly was quoted as saying by a leading TV channel.
"Dhoni has been captain for nine years, which is a long period. Does he have it in him to go for another four years? He has already given up Test cricket and now plays only ODIs and T20s. So the selectors need to find an answer to whether they see Dhoni leading India in 2019? If the answer is no, then find a new captain. If the answer is yes, which I will find very very surprising, Dhoni continues," he added.
Ganguly, however, came to Dhoni's defence about questions of his form and the misfiring RPS. "To be honest, he has come under fire, but that's because he has gone to a new franchise, a new team. His side has not been the same as it was with the Chennai Super Kings. You have got to take that into consideration," Ganguly said.
RPS has been suffering due to a flurry of injuries to its star players, including marquee auction signings Steve Smith, Faf du Plessis, Kevin Pietersen, and Mitchell Marsh. Dhoni's individual form too has taken a hit in the tournament.
Ganguly was full of praise for Virat Kohli, who was handed the Test captaincy last year, saying that the star batsman brings energy to the field.
“Virat Kohli is getting better every time. He is probably the best in the world in terms of consistency. His mental energy, tenacity is unreal. His attitude on the field is superb. His record as Test captain has been good,” he said.
“Decision on appointing Kohli as captain should go in terms of where MS goes from here. There’s no disregard to him, he’s been one of the greatest captains of the country,” he concluded.
Kohli has already led India in 17 matches, scoring four centuries.
