Has the time come for MS Dhoni to step down from T20s?

Samarth Srivastava

New Delhi: It was second T20 against New Zealand when India was in trouble with skipper Virat Kohli needing assistance from the other end. Eyes were on the best finisher of the world MS Dhoni and he yet again failed to live up to the expectations. Naturally, it was the time for some tongue wagging.

This time his fans are upset, not because he failed to sail India out of trouble but owing to the fact that their superstar was playing too many dot balls and struggling to rotate the strike.

The game ended in the favour of New Zealand with Dhoni's failure to score some quick runs, consuming Virat Kohli.

It was not the first instance where Mahi failed to deliver but several such episodes took place scenes were seen in the recent past with Dhoni not being able to score runs on a brisk run rate, a necessity of the shortest form of the game.

Also read: MS Dhoni has to score from ball one, feels Virender Sehwag

The insane hitting of MS Dhoni has gone missing, making him the choice only for One-Day Internationals. He has not remained that MSD who can hit from the very first delivery he face. He can be perfect at number 4 in ODIs but team management, there also, making things tougher for the most successful Indian skipper by lowering his batting to 6-7.

Not only the fans but the former cricketers who were always in awe of Dhoni had different tone to express their reservation as when the greatest finisher of the game bid adieu of this format. His batting records need not to be discussed or considered here as he bats lower down the order and usually does not get to bat or face 1-2 overs when it comes to the shortest format of the game.

Dhoni, however, took just 37 balls in his 49-run knock but his first 25 runs come at a run-a-ball, in a time when India was in need of some biggies.

With Dhoni being the top trend in the cricketing circles, few veterans stood by his side while others weighed down on him.

"I feel its time for MS Dhoni to give youngsters a chance in T2O format," these words have come from former Indian batsman VVS Laxman who added his name to the list of veterans opposing Dhoni's place in T20s.

Check what veterans have to say about MS Dhoni:

Ajit Agarkar: I think India must now look at other options, at least in T20Is. In one-day cricket, they seem be happy with the role that he is playing. When you were the captain of the side, it was different. But just as a batsman, will India miss him, I don't think so. In T20 cricket, it is lot easier to make that transition as there is lot of experience in that team apart from MS Dhoni now.

Virender Sehwag: Team India needs MS Dhoni at the moment, even in T20 cricket. He will step down at the right time. He will never block the way for any young cricketer," said Sehwag to India TV. And probably that comes with the explanation that he had stepped down from Test cricket with the believe that Kohli was ready to take over the captain's responsibility and Wriddhiman Saha was ready to take on the wicketkeeping duties.He has to score from ball one and the team management should make him understand this point," said Sehwag

Sunil Gavaskar: Hardik Pandya getting out for one by not picking up a googly. We will not look at that. We will not look at the fact that openers did not give the usual start. We will only point a finger at MS Dhoni. So that is unfortunate. So, that is India for you.

Brushing aside growing chatter about Dhoni's position in T2O Internationals, Indian skipper Virat Kohli called it an unfair thing to blame Dhoni inning for the defeat of India against New Zealand in the Rajkot T20.

"If I fail three times, no one is going to point fingers at me because I'm not over 35. The guy is fit, he is passing all the fitness tests, he is contributing to the team in every way possible, tactically on the field, with the bat. If you look at the series against Sri Lanka and Australia, he did really well and in this series he hasn't got much time to bat," said Kohli.

In the lines of Gavaskar, Kohli said that even Hardik Pandya did not score runs in that match then, "why are we only pointing out one man?"

The replacement of Dhoni is also a thing of concern for India team management with young gun Rishabh Pant's subsequent loss of form. Dinesh Karthik can be put in but he also cannot do much in the shortest format of the game and the same is with the regular Test wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha.

If chief selector MKS Prasad's words are to be quoted, "only if he can continue with his good performance Dhoni can stay part of the team," its the high time for Mahi in T20s to take a call or go hammer and tongs in T20s.