Team India head coach Ravi Shastri believes MS Dhoni’s addition to the squad as a mentor for the ICC T20 World Cup will only strengthen the group. Incidentally, the BCCI appointed the former India captain as the team mentor on Wednesday for the global T20 meet.
In a candid conversation with the TOI, Shastri lauded the BCCI for bringing in MS Dhoni for the T20 World Cup. He termed the BCCI’s decision a ‘great’ move and asserted that Dhoni’s astute tactical acumen would benefit the team immensely in the tournament.
💬 💬 Mr. @msdhoni will join #TeamIndia for the upcoming #T20WorldCup as a mentor.
The announcement from Mr. @JayShah, Honorary Secretary, BCCI, which made the entire nation happy.👍 pic.twitter.com/2IaCynLT8J
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 8, 2021
Speaking to TOI, Ravi Shastri said:
“The team couldn’t have asked for anything better. The BCCI has thought this out extremely well and put the plans in place. Having MS Dhoni in the dressing-room and the dugout will be a huge shot in the arm for the boys. It’s a great move.”
“We all know what experience he brings to the table. What more can the team ask for? When I first heard from the secretary, I was absolutely thrilled at the idea. In the end, it’s about India’s aspirations, not individuals. In that, we should look to put our best foot forward,” he added.
This will be the first time MS Dhoni will be seen in the India dugout after the ICC World Cup final against New Zealand.
MS Dhoni’s role will be defined: Gautam Gambhir
Speaking on Sony Sports Network, Gautam Gambhir stated that the move means that Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli need something specific apart from the group of support staff they already have.
“I am sure his (Dhoni’s) role will be defined. You’ve got the head coach, you’ve got the assistant coach, you’ve got the bowling coach. So I am sure there has to be something from Virat Kohli or from Ravi Shastri that they would want apart from what they already have. Because India has been very successful in T20 cricket. It’s not that India struggled in T20 cricket. Had India struggled in T20 cricket, they might have had to get someone from outside,” Gambhir said.
