Virat Says Dhoni Wanted Rishabh Pant to Play Australia T20 Series

Virat Kohli talks about why MS Dhoni was dropped from the Indian squad for the T20 series vs Windies and Australia.

Virat Kohli has clarified that MS Dhoni had been part of the decision to let Rishabh Pant replace him in the next T20 matches India plays.

(Photo: AP)

In one of the biggest decisions made by MSK Prasad’s selection committee, former India captain MS Dhoni was dropped from the Indian T20 squad last Friday.

While announcing the team for the upcoming three-match home series against the Windies and the three T20s in Australia next month, MS Dhoni was made to make way for Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik as the selectors said they were planning ahead to the World T20 in 2020 and looking for India’s second-choice keeper.

Not many took that statement at face value and reports suggested that MS Dhoni was being forced to step away from the shortest format of the game.

Following the ODI series win over the Windies in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, Indian skipper Virat Kohli however was asked about Dhoni’s dropping and he clarified that his predecessor was, in fact, part of the decision-making process.

“I think the selector has already addressed this. He’s been spoken to firstly. I was not part of that conversation. It is what the selector explained.”

Virat Kohli, Captain, India

Reports had earlier suggested that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had both been consulted while making the decision on Dhoni’s T20 future. However, while Kohli clarified that was not the case, he also added that Dhoni himself wanted Rishabh to get more time in the middle in the shorter format.

“I think people are putting too many variables into the situation, which is not the case. I can assure you of that. He (Dhoni) is still a very integral part of the team. He just feels that in the T20 format someone like Rishabh can get more chances, he anyway plays ODIs for us very regularly so from that point of view, it’s only trying to help a youngster. It’s got nothing to do with what other people are saying. I, as captain, can certainly assure you of that.”

Virat Kohli, Captain, India

India wrapped up the five-match ODI series against the Windies 3-1 and will now play three more T20s on 4, 6 and 11 November. MS Dhoni, however, will next be seen in action on 12 January 2019 during the first ODI against Australia.