New Delhi:
Former India captain MS Dhoni has strongly backed senior batting greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, asserting that no one has the right to decide when a player should stop, as long as performance and fitness remain intact. Dhoni also described India’s current T20 side as “one of the most dangerous teams”, while cautioning that dew could play a decisive role in the upcoming T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka.
Speaking in a rare interview with sports broadcaster Jatin Sapru, facilitated by tile and stone-installation company MYK Laticrete, which recently roped him in as brand ambassador, Dhoni offered candid views on Indian cricket during a nearly 30-minute interaction.
When asked about the possibility of Rohit Sharma (38) and Virat Kohli (37) featuring in the 2027 ODI World Cup, Dhoni initially deflected the question with his trademark humour.
“Sorry, what’s the question?” he quipped.
But moments later, the former skipper turned serious.
‘Why Should Someone Not Play the World Cup?’
“Why not? Why somebody should not play the World Cup?” Dhoni asked.
“For me, age is not a criterion. Performance and fitness are the criteria. Nobody should be told anything — but yes, everyone should be treated the same way.”
Drawing from his own career, Dhoni stressed that longevity should not be penalised.
“When I made my debut, I was 24 and nobody told me anything. Now if I’ve played 10 or 20 years for India, nobody needs to come and tell me about my age.”
The 44-year-old, who continues to feature for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, highlighted the irreplaceable value of experience in international cricket.
“Whether it’s Rohit, Virat or others who come up in the next five years — whether they can play the next World Cup or not is not for us to decide. It’s for them to decide,” Dhoni said.
“If they’re playing well, if they’re fit, and if they still have the hunger to perform for the country, then why not?”
Experience Can’t Be Manufactured
Dhoni underlined that experience isn’t built in a handful of games.
“You can’t get experienced people overnight. You can’t have a 20-year-old who is experienced — unless it’s a Sachin Tendulkar,” he said with a smile.
“A player becomes experienced only after being under pressure for a long period. Playing 20 or 25 games doesn’t make you experienced.”
“I had to play 80–85 games to understand how to control my heart, my emotions, and handle pressure. That’s why the right balance between experience and youth is crucial.”
Selection Should Be Simple
With current India head coach Gautam Gambhir remaining non-committal on the future of Rohit and Kohli — both now ODI-only players — Dhoni was unequivocal.
“Treat everyone equally,” he said.
“If you’re performing, you’ll be there. If you’re not performing, you won’t be. If you’re not fit, you can be dropped at any time.”
“There should be no individual-based questions when it comes to selection. One criterion — performance and fitness.”
India ‘One of the Most Dangerous Teams’ in T20s
The conversation then shifted to the T20 World Cup starting February 7, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Dhoni, who famously led India to the inaugural T20 World Cup title in 2007, praised the current Suryakumar Yadav-led side.
“It’s one of the most dangerous teams,” Dhoni said.
“Everything needed in a good T20 team is there — skill, depth, and vast experience in this format.”
“They’ve played under pressure, they know how to handle big moments.”
Dew Could Decide Matches
However, Dhoni flagged one major concern — dew.
“I hate dew,” he admitted.
“Dew changes everything. Even when I was playing, the toss became extremely important when there was dew. That’s something that really worries me.”
He concluded with cautious optimism.
“Nobody should get injured, everyone should execute their roles properly. If that happens, I don’t want to jinx it — but yes, it’s one of the most dangerous teams.”