Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said MS Dhoni played a "terrific" innings during India's seven-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in the first ODI of ongoing three-match series in Dharamsala on Sunday.
The wicketkeeper batsman's ability to play matured innings is the reason why Virat Kohli has been backing him in ODIs, according to the batting great.
"Very much [Dhoni's experience key to India]. He showed that today. The fast bowlers had already finished six-seven overs when he came in. But still, it's a one-ball game, he needed to hang around," Ganguly told India Today on Sunday.
He added: "He attacked when needed and rotated when needed. It's a terrific innings from Dhoni. It was a matured innings."
"That is why Virat Kohli persists with him in 50-over cricket. That is why he is important to Team India in the 50-over format for whatever time he decides to play."
Rohit Sharma and co. were completely outplayed by the visitors as Suranga Lakmal-led Sri Lankan bowling attack exploited a tinge of green on the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (HPCA) to good effect.
Unable to cope up with the new ball burst from Sri Lanka, India were reeling at 29 for 7. However, Dhoni came up with yet another rescue act, hitting more than half (65) of the team's 112-run total.
The wicketkeeper-batsman, who has remained oblivious to talks about his retirement, proved his critics wrong with a valiant knock, in which he found ways to nullify the pace-bowling threat from Sri Lanka.
Ganguly bats for Rahane, Rahul
Meanwhile, Ganguly also backed "quality" batsmen Ajinkya Rahane and KL Rahul to return to India's middle-order for the second ODI, which will be played on December 13 in Mohali.
Debutant Shreyas Iyer along with Manish Pandey and Dinesh Karthik failed to make use of an opportunity to step up and deliver for the team in Dharamsala.
In the absence of Virat Kohli, Team India needs experience in the middle order, according to the former captain.
"I am convinced Ajinkya Rahane and RL Rahul are must in the batting line-up. They have the quality, they are better than Manish Pandey and Shreyas Iyer. In terms of experience also, they have been with the team for a while. When you go to places like South Africa and England, you need experienced players," Ganguly said.
"I hope the management thinks about bringing him [Rahane] back because he has quality. In the last few series, he has been consistently among runs. I was a bit surprised he was not in the lineup [on Sunday].
"You cannot confuse Test form and ODI form. Even in Tests, Rahane has had one poor series [recently-concluded Sri Lanka series]. So, I think he needs to be back in this side, especially when someone like Virat Kohli is not in the line-up."
