If there is one debate that never ceases to come to an end in India cricket, it is this: Which number should MS Dhoni bat on? He has batted on various positions, but with the Champions Trophy starting next month, former India cricketer Kapil Dev wants the Jharkhand man to bat at number four.
It is a call that the Indian team management needs to take. Dhoni has been a huge success at various positions in the middle order, including at number four, five and six.
Dhoni may have started his career as an explosive batsman, but the former India captain now takes his time in the middle, gets his eye in, and then plays the big shots towards the end. Call it maturity or shouldering the responsibility as a senior player, Dhoni has done that efficiently, helping India win matches with his late finishes.
The same reason may be behind Kapil's wish to see Dhoni come at number four for India in the Champions Trophy.
"Dhoni may not be the Dhoni of eight years back, but he is still the most experienced player in the Indian side, and how they use him will be critical. Virat Kohli should be very happy to have him in the side," Hindustan Times quoted Kapil as saying.
"I think he needs to play a few balls before settling down. If he can bat up in the order, at No 4 maybe, it will give him time to settle. At the end of the innings he is absolutely lethal against any bowling."
It remains to be seen if Kapil's wish will come true as India are a quality batting unit, with a strong middle order. Virat Kohli took over the India team captaincy from MS Dhoni in the last ODI series against England, and Dhoni batted at number five throughout the series.
Kohli is a regular at number three for India, and if Dhoni is pushed up the order to number four, Yuvraj Singh might have to come in to bat at number five. They can take the call depending on the match situation, and keep the middle order flexible for the Champions Trophy.
