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It was believed that a successful tournament for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain could have helped assess his future ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia in October-November, but the coronavirus pandemic has thrown a key in the works. Dhoni has not played any competitive cricket since the World Cup final over 50 in July last year and his return to action on the field has now been further delayed.
However, CSK bowling coach L Balaji, who saw the former India captain train closely in Chepauk during the team’s preparatory camp in the first two weeks of March, believes there are no signs of rust at all in Dhoni’s batting.
“We shouldn’t be talking about Dhoni’s six-month break. It’s not that bad. If you see Tiger Woods or Roger Federer, they miss the major tournaments and then come back. The break doesn’t mean they go off. The skill level doesn’t change. It’s the same with Dhoni. When it comes to proven artists, you don’t need to think about their skill level. It may not be the same as it was when I was 25 or 26, but it’s much better equipped with the mental side of the game. What I saw during CSK training, it never seemed like Dhoni was out of the game for an extended period of time. He didn’t look rusty even on the first day of training. That’s his greatness, “Balaji noted in a conversation on Wednesday.
During his time as a player and now as a coach, Balaji has seen the value that Dhoni brings to the table. While KL Rahul has filed a claim as a wicketkeeper-batsman with impressive performances in limited cricket recently, Dhoni’s inclusion for the T20 WC is obvious to Balaji.
“It totally depends on the selectors, but if you ask me, I would always go with MS for any great tournament. Beyond his finishing skills, there are many things he brings to the table. It’s about having multiple innings in a team game. When it comes to winning big tournaments, we cannot have makeshift players as it creates uncertainty. It’s about having the best players for each slot, ”said the 38-year-old.
Since the chances of the IPL being played during the traditional summer window are practically ruled out, there are suggestions that the tournament could take place during September-October. If that window for the IPL does materialize, Balaji feels the adjustment won’t be an issue even though the tournament has always been played during the summer months of March, April, and May.
“We are used to playing the IPL at the peak of summer after the national season. However, the T20 Champions League, before being eliminated, used to take place in September and October. So if the IPL is done this year, it’s something we’re familiar with. There were no drastic changes to the launches that I have ever noticed, ”he explained.
