After slamming critics, Ravi Shastri goes gaga over MS Dhoni; here's what he said

Mumbai: Mahendra Singh Dhoni may be nearing his cricket retirement, but there is no doubt that the former India skipper will go down as one of the greatest players to grace the gentleman’s game. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman’s consistency may have decreased over the years, but he still brings a lot to the table in the limited-overs format.

The 36-year-old is often spotted offering his valuable inputs to bowlers from behind the stumps, taking a DRS call or even helping skipper Virat Kohli in field placements. Team India head coach Ravi Shastri on Friday singled out Dhoni and showered praise on him, stating there was no substitute for his experience in the market.

“And like I said, there is no substitute for experience. That cannot be bought or sold in the market. He’ll (Dhoni) go down as one of the greatest one-day players the world has ever seen. And when you have that kind of experience, the level of fitness and what he’s maintained,” Shastri was quoted as saying by India Today.

Dhoni’s batting role has immensely changed over the years, from a hard-hitting batsman to an anchor who steers the innings. But Shastri feels Dhoni’s presence makes a big difference irrespective of the batting position he is slotted in.

“When it comes to finishing a game or batting in the final overs, there have been very few better than him in the history of the game. When you have that cushion of someone like him coming at No. 5, 6 or even 7 it makes a big big difference,” he concluded.