There has been a long-standing debate over all-rounder Hardik Pandya's spot in India's squad for the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Hardik has not bowled regularly for over two years now and has been playing for the Men in Blue as a pure batter in the showpiece event in UAE and Oman. He also did not bowl for his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians in the recently-concluded 2021 season.

The Indian selectors were reportedly not in favour of keeping Hardik in India's T20 World Cup squad after he didn't bowl at all for Mumbai Indians in the second leg of IPL 2021 in UAE. However, it was MS Dhoni who vouched for Hardik's finishing skills and helped him stay in the T20 World Cup squad.

The selectors had made up their mins to send Hardik back home from UAE after the conclusion of IPL 2021 after he didn't bowl a single over for Mumbai Indians. However, Dhoni's backing ensured he was kept in the squad. Former India captain Dhoni is currently the mentor of the Indian team for the T20 World Cup 2021.

"The truth is that the selectors wanted to send him back to India after he didn't bowl in the IPL, but MS Dhoni (appointed Team India mentor) vouched for his finishing skills," a source was quoted as saying by Times of India.

The source further stated that it was not right to play an unfit Hardik and not give chance to someone else who has been doing well. Hardik sustained a minor shoulder injury during the India-Pakistan clash and looked in trouble while batting. He has not been bowling due to back issues.

"The whole mystery around his fitness has been going on for the last six months. You're now saying that he has a shoulder injury. In the bargain, you aren't giving a chance to a fit guy. You're playing an unfit guy who isn't useful to the team. It's not right. Because of him, you're neglecting other fit guys who have been performing well,” the source added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-ishan-kishan-and-shreyas-iyers-reactions-to-virat-kohlis-brilliance-in-nets-go-viral-watch-424867">Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer's reactions to Virat Kohli's 'brilliance' in nets go viral - Watch</a>

Hardik came out to bat at number seven during India's game against Pakistan in Dubai and could oly score 11 runs in 8 balls before being dismissed by Haris Rauf. He failed to connect a few deliveries and looked out of form with the willow.

Amid his poor run, there have been calls for the inclusion of Shardul Thakur in the side but it remains to be seen what combination will India go with in their next game against New Zealand on October 31.

There has been a long-standing debate over all-rounder Hardik Pandya's spot in India's squad for the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Hardik has not bowled regularly for over two years now and has been playing for the Men in Blue as a pure batter in the showpiece event in UAE and Oman.

There has been a long-standing debate over all-rounder Hardik Pandya's spot in India's squad for the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Hardik has not bowled regularly for over two years now and has been playing for the Men in Blue as a pure batter in the showpiece event in UAE and Oman. He also did not bowl for his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians in the recently-concluded 2021 season. The Indian selectors were reportedly not in favour of keeping Hardik in India's T20 World Cup squad after he didn't bowl at all for Mumbai Indians in the second leg of IPL 2021 in UAE. However, it was MS Dhoni who vouched for Hardik's finishing skills and helped him stay in the T20 World Cup squad. The selectors had made up their mins to send Hardik back home from UAE after the conclusion of IPL 2021 after he didn't bowl a single over for Mumbai Indians. However, Dhoni's backing ensured he was kept in the squad. Former India captain Dhoni is currently the mentor of the Indian team for the T20 World Cup 2021. "The truth is that the selectors wanted to send him back to India after he didn't bowl in the IPL, but MS Dhoni (appointed Team India mentor) vouched for his finishing skills," a source was quoted as saying by Times of India. The source further stated that it was not right to play an unfit Hardik and not give chance to someone else who has been doing well. Hardik sustained a minor shoulder injury during the India-Pakistan clash and looked in trouble while batting. He has not been bowling due to back issues. "The whole mystery around his fitness has been going on for the last six months. You're now saying that he has a shoulder injury. In the bargain, you aren't giving a chance to a fit guy. You're playing an unfit guy who isn't useful to the team. It's not right. Because of him, you're neglecting other fit guys who have been performing well,” the source added. Also Read: Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer's reactions to Virat Kohli's 'brilliance' in nets go viral - Watch Hardik came out to bat at number seven during India's game against Pakistan in Dubai and could oly score 11 runs in 8 balls before being dismissed by Haris Rauf. He failed to connect a few deliveries and looked out of form with the willow. Amid his poor run, there have been calls for the inclusion of Shardul Thakur in the side but it remains to be seen what combination will India go with in their next game against New Zealand on October 31.

Selectors wanted to send Hardik Pandya back but MS Dhoni vouched for his finishing skills to keep him - Report

Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis opened up on his "interesting" and "honest" conversation with the former skipper of the Indian cricket team MS Dhoni during the recently concluded Indian Premier League 2021. The Delhi Capitals (DC) star Stoinis even revealed that the Chennai Super Kings captain told him about CSK's plans for him and they also spoke about training, etc.&nbsp;

"He was actually very honest with me. He understood me very well and he sort of said how they (CSK) would try to bowl to me and how he tried to set the fields for me. [It] was both a compliment but also a little dig where I have to figure out which way to take it and I’m taking it as a compliment (chuckles)," Stoinis said in a conversation with The Grade Cricketer’s YouTube channel.&nbsp;

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/mentor-ms-dhoni-and-billion-cheers-jersey-why-indias-t20-world-cup-2021-campaign-will-be-remembered-forever-422991">Mentor MS Dhoni and Billion Cheers Jersey: Why India's T20 World Cup 2021 campaign will be remembered forever</a>

"It was very interesting he did say that it’s very obvious how some people want to take some responsibility and stay until the end whereas some people are willing to take the risk early to, sort of, either try and get ahead of the game or walk off and he identifies that within the team," Stoinis added.

"We spoke about training, we spoke about his belief on ‘Work on your weakness as long as it’s not taking anything away from your strength’. So he spoke about how a lot of coaches will ask you to work on things and you might work on the short ball and then you start missing the full ball… which was a really, really nice filter for me for training," the all-rounder added.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-imad-wasims-special-message-for-new-zealand-cricket-team-as-he-mentions-the-cancelled-tour-424548">Imad Wasim's 'special message' for New Zealand cricket team as he mentions the cancelled tour</a>

During the IPL 2021, Dhoni helped his side to reach a ninth Indian Premier League final with a four-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 1. CSK then defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to win the coveted IPL trophy.&nbsp;

Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis opened up on his "interesting" and "honest" conversation with the former skipper of the Indian cricket team MS Dhoni during the recently concluded Indian Premier League 2021.

Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis opened up on his "interesting" and "honest" conversation with the former skipper of the Indian cricket team MS Dhoni during the recently concluded Indian Premier League 2021. The Delhi Capitals (DC) star Stoinis even revealed that the Chennai Super Kings captain told him about CSK's plans for him and they also spoke about training, etc. "He was actually very honest with me. He understood me very well and he sort of said how they (CSK) would try to bowl to me and how he tried to set the fields for me. [It] was both a compliment but also a little dig where I have to figure out which way to take it and I’m taking it as a compliment (chuckles)," Stoinis said in a conversation with The Grade Cricketer’s YouTube channel. IN PICS | Mentor MS Dhoni and Billion Cheers Jersey: Why India's T20 World Cup 2021 campaign will be remembered forever "It was very interesting he did say that it’s very obvious how some people want to take some responsibility and stay until the end whereas some people are willing to take the risk early to, sort of, either try and get ahead of the game or walk off and he identifies that within the team," Stoinis added. "We spoke about training, we spoke about his belief on ‘Work on your weakness as long as it’s not taking anything away from your strength’. So he spoke about how a lot of coaches will ask you to work on things and you might work on the short ball and then you start missing the full ball… which was a really, really nice filter for me for training," the all-rounder added. WATCH | Imad Wasim's 'special message' for New Zealand cricket team as he mentions the cancelled tour During the IPL 2021, Dhoni helped his side to reach a ninth Indian Premier League final with a four-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 1. CSK then defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to win the coveted IPL trophy.

'He was very honest with me': Marcus Stoinis opens up on 'interesting' conversation with Dhoni during IPL 2021

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was the highlight of the training session at the ICC Academy on Wednesday as he bowled for a short span of around 15 minutes. This after he ran long sprints under the watchful eyes of strength and conditioning coach Nick Webb and Soham Desai. The fitness drills lasted around 20-25 minutes.

Hardik then put on his batting gears and walked into the nets to fine-tune his batting skills. Taking throwdowns, he went full throttle and there was no holding back. In fact, there was also a short stop as MS Dhoni walked up to the side of the nets and passed on some instructions before the net session resumed.

The all-rounder had hurt his shoulder during the game against Pakistan, but the scan report cleared him of any injury concern. And the management is confident he will be available for selection against New Zealand come Sunday.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-will-hardik-pandya-feature-in-indias-clash-against-nz-bcci-official-provides-injury-update-424159">T20 World Cup: Will Hardik Pandya feature in India's clash against NZ? BCCI official provides injury update</a>

But more importantly, it was pleasing to see him bowl a short burst at the nets on Wednesday. While he is not near his best when it comes to bowling, skipper Virat Kohli had said he is looking at Hardik getting ready to bowl at least two overs in a game at some stage in the tournament.

"Well, I honestly feel that Hardik Pandya presently with his physical condition is getting better in terms of being prepared to bowl at least two overs for us at a certain stage in this tournament and we strongly believe we can make the most of the opportunity we have at our hand till the time he starts bowling. We have considered a couple of other options to chip in with overs so we are not bothered about that all," said Kohli during a virtual pre-match press conference ahead of the Pakistan game.

"What he brings at number six for us is something that you cannot create overnight. Hence, I was always in favour of backing him as a batter in Australia purely and we saw what he did in the T20I series and how he can take the game away from the opposition."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/were-you-safe-in-uae-shoaib-akhtar-takes-a-dig-at-new-zealand-after-pakistan-clash-in-t20-wc-424402">Were you safe in UAE? Shoaib Akhtar takes a dig at New Zealand after Pakistan clash in T20 WC</a>

"We understand the value he brings to the team as a number six batter and it is important to have such players who can play impact innings. For us, that is way more valuable than forcing him to do something that he cannot at the moment, he is motivated and he is keen to start giving us a couple of overs to us," he had added.&nbsp;

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was the highlight of the training session at the ICC Academy on Wednesday as he bowled for a short span of around 15 minutes. This after he ran long sprints under the watchful eyes of strength and conditioning coach Nick Webb and Soham Desai.

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was the highlight of the training session at the ICC Academy on Wednesday as he bowled for a short span of around 15 minutes. This after he ran long sprints under the watchful eyes of strength and conditioning coach Nick Webb and Soham Desai. The fitness drills lasted around 20-25 minutes. Hardik then put on his batting gears and walked into the nets to fine-tune his batting skills. Taking throwdowns, he went full throttle and there was no holding back. In fact, there was also a short stop as MS Dhoni walked up to the side of the nets and passed on some instructions before the net session resumed. The all-rounder had hurt his shoulder during the game against Pakistan, but the scan report cleared him of any injury concern. And the management is confident he will be available for selection against New Zealand come Sunday. ALSO READ: T20 World Cup: Will Hardik Pandya feature in India's clash against NZ? BCCI official provides injury update But more importantly, it was pleasing to see him bowl a short burst at the nets on Wednesday. While he is not near his best when it comes to bowling, skipper Virat Kohli had said he is looking at Hardik getting ready to bowl at least two overs in a game at some stage in the tournament. "Well, I honestly feel that Hardik Pandya presently with his physical condition is getting better in terms of being prepared to bowl at least two overs for us at a certain stage in this tournament and we strongly believe we can make the most of the opportunity we have at our hand till the time he starts bowling. We have considered a couple of other options to chip in with overs so we are not bothered about that all," said Kohli during a virtual pre-match press conference ahead of the Pakistan game. "What he brings at number six for us is something that you cannot create overnight. Hence, I was always in favour of backing him as a batter in Australia purely and we saw what he did in the T20I series and how he can take the game away from the opposition." ALSO READ | Were you safe in UAE? Shoaib Akhtar takes a dig at New Zealand after Pakistan clash in T20 WC "We understand the value he brings to the team as a number six batter and it is important to have such players who can play impact innings. For us, that is way more valuable than forcing him to do something that he cannot at the moment, he is motivated and he is keen to start giving us a couple of overs to us," he had added.

T20 World Cup: Hardik Pandya rolls arm over before smashing a few big ones

Virat Kohli-led India locked horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in their tournament-opener in the T20 World Cup 2021 edition's Super 12 round, on Sunday evening (October 24), at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Going into the clash with a 12-match winning streak over the Men in Green in World Cup history (including ODIs and T20Is), the Men in Blue were expected to romp past Babar Azam-led Pakistan, however, they lost by ten wickets.

Being asked to bat first, India posted a respectable 151-7. However, the total was below-par as Pakistan chased it down without losing a single wicket, courtesy openers Babar (68 not out) and Mohammad Rizwan (79*). From India, only Kohli stood tall with the bat and made a vital 57.&nbsp;

Ahead of the 2007 winners' next game, versus Kane Williamson-led New Zealand, former all-rounder Yusuf Pathan has an important message for fans and feels India still have it in them to win the showpiece event, in the UAE.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t10-cricket-is-no-more-just-a-hitting-game-it-needs-strategy-as-well-says-yusuf-pathan-424451">T10 cricket is no more just a hitting game, it needs strategy as well, says Yusuf Pathan</a>

In a virtual press-conference for the fifth season of Abu Dhabi T10 league, Yusuf told wionnews.com, "We all want to win every game. As a fan, I'll just say this is just the start of the tournament. We have to motivate our troops. Don't demotivate them at this crucial juncture. It happens. We have lost our first game versus Pakistan in 29 years (in WC history). These are our top 15 players, we need to back them relentlessly. We play as a team and as a country, we should take a stand for Team India players. This should be our attitude. In their tough times, we need to be with them as they give us plenty of joy from time to time."

"I don't think it will be difficult for India to bounce back as our players have been playing good cricket. All the India players are hardworking and they know how to handle pressure. We all should keep supporting the team and the players will definitely do well. We are not out of the tournament after one loss. India still have a chance to win the ICC Men's T20 World Cup and I hope that we win the T20 World Cup," Yusuf further asserted during the interaction.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/were-you-safe-in-uae-shoaib-akhtar-takes-a-dig-at-new-zealand-after-pakistan-clash-in-t20-wc-424402">Were you safe in UAE? Shoaib Akhtar takes a dig at New Zealand after Pakistan clash in T20 WC</a>

India will face New Zealand on Sunday evening (October 31), at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Another loss will severely hurt their campaign whereas a win will keep Team India in contention to finish as the runners-up in Pool B, assuming that Pakistan have a solid chance to top the group after two successive victories.

Virat Kohli-led India locked horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in their tournament-opener in the T20 World Cup 2021 edition's Super 12 round, on Sunday evening (October 24), at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

Virat Kohli-led India locked horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in their tournament-opener in the T20 World Cup 2021 edition's Super 12 round, on Sunday evening (October 24), at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Going into the clash with a 12-match winning streak over the Men in Green in World Cup history (including ODIs and T20Is), the Men in Blue were expected to romp past Babar Azam-led Pakistan, however, they lost by ten wickets. Being asked to bat first, India posted a respectable 151-7. However, the total was below-par as Pakistan chased it down without losing a single wicket, courtesy openers Babar (68 not out) and Mohammad Rizwan (79*). From India, only Kohli stood tall with the bat and made a vital 57. Ahead of the 2007 winners' next game, versus Kane Williamson-led New Zealand, former all-rounder Yusuf Pathan has an important message for fans and feels India still have it in them to win the showpiece event, in the UAE. ALSO READ | T10 cricket is no more just a hitting game, it needs strategy as well, says Yusuf Pathan In a virtual press-conference for the fifth season of Abu Dhabi T10 league, Yusuf told wionnews.com, "We all want to win every game. As a fan, I'll just say this is just the start of the tournament. We have to motivate our troops. Don't demotivate them at this crucial juncture. It happens. We have lost our first game versus Pakistan in 29 years (in WC history). These are our top 15 players, we need to back them relentlessly. We play as a team and as a country, we should take a stand for Team India players. This should be our attitude. In their tough times, we need to be with them as they give us plenty of joy from time to time." "I don't think it will be difficult for India to bounce back as our players have been playing good cricket. All the India players are hardworking and they know how to handle pressure. We all should keep supporting the team and the players will definitely do well. We are not out of the tournament after one loss. India still have a chance to win the ICC Men's T20 World Cup and I hope that we win the T20 World Cup," Yusuf further asserted during the interaction. ALSO READ | Were you safe in UAE? Shoaib Akhtar takes a dig at New Zealand after Pakistan clash in T20 WC India will face New Zealand on Sunday evening (October 31), at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Another loss will severely hurt their campaign whereas a win will keep Team India in contention to finish as the runners-up in Pool B, assuming that Pakistan have a solid chance to top the group after two successive victories.

'We will win T20 World Cup' - Yusuf Pathan confident of Team India despite Pakistan drubbing

T20 World Cup 2021: Top five moments from India-Pakistan clash that won hearts across borders

It was a dreamy night for the Pakistan players as they rejoiced their first win over arch-rivals India in a World Cup encounter. India's flawless unbeaten streak of 12 matches in the Cricket World Cup came to an end with a crushing 10-wicket defeat at the hands of Babar Azam &amp; Co. in Dubai in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 24).

It was a one-sided affair as Pakistan restricted India for a moderate 151 and chased down the target with 13 balls to spare. It was a special occasion for Pakistan pacer Shahnawaz Dahani despite him not being part of Pakistan's playing XI in the memorable clash.

While he was happy to see Pakistan earn their maiden win against India in a World Cup game, Dahani was also elated to meet India legend MS Dhoni. Calling Dhoni his dream player, Dahani took to Twitter to state that the night was not to be forgotten.

Dhoni, who is regarded as one of the best captains of all time in world cricket, was seen interacting with Pakistan players at the end of the T20 World Cup clash between India and the Men in Green in Dubai. Dahani was among the group of Pakistan players, who got a chance to pick Dhoni's brain.

"What a night it was, Happiness of Pakistan's Victory and excitement of meeting one of my dream player @msdhoni can't be forgotten," Dahani wrote on Twitter while sharing a picture with Dhoni.

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what a night it was, Happiness of Pakistan's Victory and excitement of meeting one of my dream player <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> can't be forgotten. <a href="https://t.co/CWQjm4vDKa">pic.twitter.com/CWQjm4vDKa</a>
— Shahnawaz Dahani (@ShahnawazDahani) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShahnawazDahani/status/1452507362242269184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virender-sehwag-reacts-to-firecrackers-being-burst-in-parts-of-india-to-celebrate-pakistans-win-in-t20-wc-423809">Virender Sehwag reacts to firecrackers being burst in 'parts of India' to celebrate Pakistan's win in T20 WC</a>

Batting first, India got off to a poor start as they lost both openers KL Rahul (3) and Rohit Sharma (0) cheaply before skipper Kohli's 57 and Rishabh Pant's 39 helped India reach 151 runs on the board in 20 overs. In reply, Pakistan made light work of the run-chase and chased down the target with 13 balls to spare.

Openers Babar Azam (68) and Mohammad Rizwan (79) scored unbeaten half-centuries to take Pakistan home comfortably and get the Men in Green off to a winning start in the tournament.

 
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It was a dreamy night for the Pakistan players as they rejoiced their first win over arch-rivals India in a World Cup encounter. India's flawless unbeaten streak of 12 matches in the Cricket World Cup came to an end with a crushing 10-wicket defeat at the hands of Babar Azam & Co.

It was a dreamy night for the Pakistan players as they rejoiced their first win over arch-rivals India in a World Cup encounter. India's flawless unbeaten streak of 12 matches in the Cricket World Cup came to an end with a crushing 10-wicket defeat at the hands of Babar Azam & Co. in Dubai in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 24). It was a one-sided affair as Pakistan restricted India for a moderate 151 and chased down the target with 13 balls to spare. It was a special occasion for Pakistan pacer Shahnawaz Dahani despite him not being part of Pakistan's playing XI in the memorable clash. While he was happy to see Pakistan earn their maiden win against India in a World Cup game, Dahani was also elated to meet India legend MS Dhoni. Calling Dhoni his dream player, Dahani took to Twitter to state that the night was not to be forgotten. Dhoni, who is regarded as one of the best captains of all time in world cricket, was seen interacting with Pakistan players at the end of the T20 World Cup clash between India and the Men in Green in Dubai. Dahani was among the group of Pakistan players, who got a chance to pick Dhoni's brain. "What a night it was, Happiness of Pakistan's Victory and excitement of meeting one of my dream player @msdhoni can't be forgotten," Dahani wrote on Twitter while sharing a picture with Dhoni. what a night it was, Happiness of Pakistan's Victory and excitement of meeting one of my dream player @msdhoni can't be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/CWQjm4vDKa — Shahnawaz Dahani (@ShahnawazDahani) October 25, 2021 × Also Read: Virender Sehwag reacts to firecrackers being burst in 'parts of India' to celebrate Pakistan's win in T20 WC Batting first, India got off to a poor start as they lost both openers KL Rahul (3) and Rohit Sharma (0) cheaply before skipper Kohli's 57 and Rishabh Pant's 39 helped India reach 151 runs on the board in 20 overs. In reply, Pakistan made light work of the run-chase and chased down the target with 13 balls to spare. Openers Babar Azam (68) and Mohammad Rizwan (79) scored unbeaten half-centuries to take Pakistan home comfortably and get the Men in Green off to a winning start in the tournament.

'Can't be forgotten': Pakistan pacer elated after meeting his dream player MS Dhoni during T20 WC 2021

Former India captain MS Dhoni has returned to the Indian dressing room for the first time since announcing his retirement from international cricket last year. Dhoni is in the UAE with the rest of the Indian squad as the team's mentor in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021.

Dhoni, a two-time World Cup-winning captain and the only skipper to have won all three major ICC limited-overs trophies, will be helping the young Indian team in bringing an end to their ICC trophy drought since 2013. India's Champions Trophy triumph in England in 2013 was their last major ICC trophy which came under Dhoni's captaincy.

As Kohli aims to lift his first T20 World Cup title in what is set to be his last assignment as India's T20I captain, Dhoni's presence in the dressing room can play a crucial role in the team's success, feels former Australia head coach John Buchanan.

Buchanan is regarded as one of the best coaches in the world and helped the Australian team win two back-to-back ODI World Cups in 2003 and 2007 while also claiming their maiden Champions Trophy title in 2006.&nbsp;The ex-Aussie coach feels Dhoni is an incredible leader and his presence around the dressing room can be an asset for Team India in the T20 World Cup 2021 where pressure can easily get the better of players.

"Dhoni is just an incredible player and an incredible leader," Buchanan told WION.

"His presence is really important. He is a calming influence, he is good at summing out situations and pretty clear at what needs to be done. I am not suggesting that Virat Kohli is not doing that but it's nice to have that sort of presence around the dressing room when things might be a little bit emotional and are not going the right way. If Dhoni plays that sort of a role, which he would. Then I think he will be a real asset to that Indian dressing room," he explained.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-is-under-pressure-he-is-trying-to-distract-himself-with-his-statements-former-pakistan-pacer-423559">Virat Kohli is under pressure, he is trying to distract himself with his statements: Former Pakistan pacer</a>

Kohli-led India will ope their T20 World Cup 2021 campaign with a high-octane clash against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24 (Sunday).

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Former India captain MS Dhoni has returned to the Indian dressing room for the first time since announcing his retirement from international cricket last year. Dhoni is in the UAE with the rest of the Indian squad as the team's mentor in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021.

Former India captain MS Dhoni has returned to the Indian dressing room for the first time since announcing his retirement from international cricket last year. Dhoni is in the UAE with the rest of the Indian squad as the team's mentor in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Dhoni, a two-time World Cup-winning captain and the only skipper to have won all three major ICC limited-overs trophies, will be helping the young Indian team in bringing an end to their ICC trophy drought since 2013. India's Champions Trophy triumph in England in 2013 was their last major ICC trophy which came under Dhoni's captaincy. As Kohli aims to lift his first T20 World Cup title in what is set to be his last assignment as India's T20I captain, Dhoni's presence in the dressing room can play a crucial role in the team's success, feels former Australia head coach John Buchanan. Buchanan is regarded as one of the best coaches in the world and helped the Australian team win two back-to-back ODI World Cups in 2003 and 2007 while also claiming their maiden Champions Trophy title in 2006. The ex-Aussie coach feels Dhoni is an incredible leader and his presence around the dressing room can be an asset for Team India in the T20 World Cup 2021 where pressure can easily get the better of players. "Dhoni is just an incredible player and an incredible leader," Buchanan told WION. "His presence is really important. He is a calming influence, he is good at summing out situations and pretty clear at what needs to be done. I am not suggesting that Virat Kohli is not doing that but it's nice to have that sort of presence around the dressing room when things might be a little bit emotional and are not going the right way. If Dhoni plays that sort of a role, which he would. Then I think he will be a real asset to that Indian dressing room," he explained. Also Read: Virat Kohli is under pressure, he is trying to distract himself with his statements: Former Pakistan pacer Kohli-led India will ope their T20 World Cup 2021 campaign with a high-octane clash against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24 (Sunday). ×

MS Dhoni an incredible leader, his presence in the dressing room will help India at T20 WC: John Buchanan

All eyes will be on India and Pakistan as the arch-rivals gear up to resume their rivalry in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. The blockbuster clash will be staged at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai with millions of fans around the world cheering for the two teams. The high-pressure clash will be the opening game for both India and Pakistan in the showpiece event this year.

Ahead of the much-awaited encounter, former Pakistan pacer Shoiab Akhtar came up with some hilarious suggestions for Babar Azam &amp; Co. when asked how should they plan to stop Team India. Akhtar jokingly said Pakistan should first give all the Indian players sleeping pills so they can't turn up for the game before adding two more hilarious suggestions.

"Give sleeping pills to India first. Second, stop Virat Kohli from using Instagram for two days (chuckles). And third, ask MS Dhoni to not come to bat himself, I am telling you he's still the most in-form batter," Akhtar told Sportskeeda.

Dhoni has already retired from international cricket and is currently with the Indian squad in the UAE as a mentor for the T20 World Cup 2021. Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket last year but continues to play his trade in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

He recently led Chennai Super Kings to their fourth IPL title triumph this season and will be looking to guide the Indian team to glory at the T20 World Cup 2021. Dhoni remains the only Indian captain to have won the T20 World Cup so far.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/please-not-this-match-pakistan-fans-urge-ms-dhoni-kl-rahul-to-spare-babar-co-ahead-of-india-clash-423444">'Please, not this match': Pakistan fans urge&nbsp;Dhoni,&nbsp;Rahul to spare Babar &amp; Co. ahead of India clash</a>

India and Pakistan have met five times in the T20 World Cup so far since the inaugural edition in 2007 with the Men in Blue remaining unbeaten in all five games. India hold a 12-0 record against Pakistan overall when it comes to World Cup matches in both ODIs and T20Is.

India will be looking to continue their unbeaten streak against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday.

All eyes will be on India and Pakistan as the arch-rivals gear up to resume their rivalry in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. The blockbuster clash will be staged at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai with millions of fans around the world cheering for the two teams.

All eyes will be on India and Pakistan as the arch-rivals gear up to resume their rivalry in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. The blockbuster clash will be staged at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai with millions of fans around the world cheering for the two teams. The high-pressure clash will be the opening game for both India and Pakistan in the showpiece event this year. Ahead of the much-awaited encounter, former Pakistan pacer Shoiab Akhtar came up with some hilarious suggestions for Babar Azam & Co. when asked how should they plan to stop Team India. Akhtar jokingly said Pakistan should first give all the Indian players sleeping pills so they can't turn up for the game before adding two more hilarious suggestions. "Give sleeping pills to India first. Second, stop Virat Kohli from using Instagram for two days (chuckles). And third, ask MS Dhoni to not come to bat himself, I am telling you he's still the most in-form batter," Akhtar told Sportskeeda. Dhoni has already retired from international cricket and is currently with the Indian squad in the UAE as a mentor for the T20 World Cup 2021. Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket last year but continues to play his trade in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He recently led Chennai Super Kings to their fourth IPL title triumph this season and will be looking to guide the Indian team to glory at the T20 World Cup 2021. Dhoni remains the only Indian captain to have won the T20 World Cup so far. Also Read: 'Please, not this match': Pakistan fans urge Dhoni, Rahul to spare Babar & Co. ahead of India clash India and Pakistan have met five times in the T20 World Cup so far since the inaugural edition in 2007 with the Men in Blue remaining unbeaten in all five games. India hold a 12-0 record against Pakistan overall when it comes to World Cup matches in both ODIs and T20Is. India will be looking to continue their unbeaten streak against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday.

'Give sleeping pills, ask Dhoni not to bat': Shoaib Akhtar's hilarious advice to Pakistan on how to stop India

MS Dhoni has made his comeback to the Indian dressing room for the first time since announcing his retirement from international cricket last year. He is currently in UAE with the rest of the Indian squad as a mentor for the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. From having a one-on-one session with players to becoming a throwdown specialist in the nets, Dhoni has been doing his best to help the players prepare for the crunch opener against Pakistan on October 24 (Sunday).

India will be opening their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 with a meeting against Babar Azam-led Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Sunday. The hype surrounding the game is at an all-time high with the arch-rivals locking horns for the first time since the 2019 ODI World Cup.

Ahead of the all-important clash, some Pakistan fans were seen enjoying a friendly banter with MS Dhoni and KL Rahul in the Dubai stadium. Mentor Dhoni was seen walking out with Rahul and other Indian players after their training session when some Pakistan fans urged them to spare Babar Azam &amp; Co., and not play well against them.

"Rahul please don't play well tomorrow," a Pakistan fan was heard shouting as Rahul walked past her. "Mahi, please leave this match, win next one, not this match please," she can be heard telling Dhoni as he walks out with India pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Some other fans can also be seen enjoying banter with Dhoni in the video which has gone viral on social media.

Watch video:

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Pakistan fans doing friendly banters with <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MSDhoni</a> and Rahul <a href="https://t.co/6XWUnYn717">pic.twitter.com/6XWUnYn717</a>
— Dhoni Army TN™ (@DhoniArmyTN) <a href="https://twitter.com/DhoniArmyTN/status/1451969438790475777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-pak-t20-world-cup-2021-prediction-today-who-will-win-india-vs-pakistan-match-423431">IND vs PAK, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction today: Who will win India vs Pakistan match?</a>

While Pakistan have already announced their 12-man squad for the India clash, Virat Kohli &amp; Co. have not revealed their possible 12. India defeated Pakistan by 89 runs via the DLS method in the last meeting between the two teams in the ODI World Cup in 2019.

India and Pakistan have met on five occasions so far in the T20 World Cup with the Men in Blue winning all five games. India are yet to be beaten by Pakistan in a T20 World Cup game. In ODI World Cup as well, India have an unbeaten 7-0 record against Pakistan.

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MS Dhoni has made his comeback to the Indian dressing room for the first time since announcing his retirement from international cricket last year. He is currently in UAE with the rest of the Indian squad as a mentor for the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021.

MS Dhoni has made his comeback to the Indian dressing room for the first time since announcing his retirement from international cricket last year. He is currently in UAE with the rest of the Indian squad as a mentor for the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. From having a one-on-one session with players to becoming a throwdown specialist in the nets, Dhoni has been doing his best to help the players prepare for the crunch opener against Pakistan on October 24 (Sunday). India will be opening their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 with a meeting against Babar Azam-led Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Sunday. The hype surrounding the game is at an all-time high with the arch-rivals locking horns for the first time since the 2019 ODI World Cup. Ahead of the all-important clash, some Pakistan fans were seen enjoying a friendly banter with MS Dhoni and KL Rahul in the Dubai stadium. Mentor Dhoni was seen walking out with Rahul and other Indian players after their training session when some Pakistan fans urged them to spare Babar Azam & Co., and not play well against them. "Rahul please don't play well tomorrow," a Pakistan fan was heard shouting as Rahul walked past her. "Mahi, please leave this match, win next one, not this match please," she can be heard telling Dhoni as he walks out with India pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Some other fans can also be seen enjoying banter with Dhoni in the video which has gone viral on social media. Watch video: Pakistan fans doing friendly banters with @MSDhoni and Rahul pic.twitter.com/6XWUnYn717 — Dhoni Army TN™ (@DhoniArmyTN) October 23, 2021 × Also Read: IND vs PAK, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction today: Who will win India vs Pakistan match? While Pakistan have already announced their 12-man squad for the India clash, Virat Kohli & Co. have not revealed their possible 12. India defeated Pakistan by 89 runs via the DLS method in the last meeting between the two teams in the ODI World Cup in 2019. India and Pakistan have met on five occasions so far in the T20 World Cup with the Men in Blue winning all five games. India are yet to be beaten by Pakistan in a T20 World Cup game. In ODI World Cup as well, India have an unbeaten 7-0 record against Pakistan.

'Please, not this match': Pakistan fans urge MS Dhoni, KL Rahul to spare Babar & Co. ahead of India clash

Ahead of the high-profile India-Pakistan clash at the T20 World Cup 2021, the excitement levels of cricket fans across the globe are at an all-time high. The arch-rivals will be locking horns for the first time since the 2019 ODI World Cup where India had thrashed Pakistan. India have never lost a World Cup game against Pakistan and will be looking to keep their winning streak intact on Sunday (October 24).

Ahead of the much-awaited clash between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai, young Pakistani pacer Shahnawaz Dahani was seen meeting legend MS Dhoni at the stadium during his team's training session on Saturday (October 22). Dahani was excited and in complete awe as he had a small conversation with Dhoni.

The clip of the incident was shared by a Pakistani journalist on Twitter. It has since gone viral on the internet and has been loved by fans of both India and Pakistan.

Watch video:

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Pakistan bowling sensation ShahnawazDahani looks exited to see the legend <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> .. 
 
"Aap <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dhoni</a> hain ..mai Dahani hon"<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PakVsInd?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PakVsInd</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> vs <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/9xZe6Vq6Yb">pic.twitter.com/9xZe6Vq6Yb</a>
— Shakir Abbasi (@ShakirAbbasi22) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShakirAbbasi22/status/1451645804784017408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
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One of the greatest Indian captains of all time, Dhoni is admired by thousands of young cricketers around the globe. He is the only captain to have won all three major ICC trophies and remains an inspiration for many even after retiring from international cricket last year.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistans-unbeaten-streak-in-dubai-why-india-shouldnt-take-babar-azam-co-lightly-in-t20-wc-2021-423247">Pakistan's unbeaten streak in Dubai: Why India shouldn't take Babar Azam &amp; Co. lightly in T20 WC 2021</a>

Besides being a successful captain, Dhoni is also one of the best wicket-keeper batters of all time in international cricket with over 10,000 runs in ODIs and a total of 829 dismissals to his name across formats. He is admired and loved by cricketers from several different countries apart from India.

The India legend is in the UAE as a mentor for Team India for the T20 World Cup 2021. He will be looking to help Virat Kohli &amp; Co. get off to a winning start against Pakistan on Sunday and go the distance in the showpiece event to clinch glory.

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Ahead of the high-profile India-Pakistan clash at the T20 World Cup 2021, the excitement levels of cricket fans across the globe are at an all-time high. The arch-rivals will be locking horns for the first time since the 2019 ODI World Cup where India had thrashed Pakistan.

Ahead of the high-profile India-Pakistan clash at the T20 World Cup 2021, the excitement levels of cricket fans across the globe are at an all-time high. The arch-rivals will be locking horns for the first time since the 2019 ODI World Cup where India had thrashed Pakistan. India have never lost a World Cup game against Pakistan and will be looking to keep their winning streak intact on Sunday (October 24). Ahead of the much-awaited clash between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai, young Pakistani pacer Shahnawaz Dahani was seen meeting legend MS Dhoni at the stadium during his team's training session on Saturday (October 22). Dahani was excited and in complete awe as he had a small conversation with Dhoni. The clip of the incident was shared by a Pakistani journalist on Twitter. It has since gone viral on the internet and has been loved by fans of both India and Pakistan. Watch video: Pakistan bowling sensation ShahnawazDahani looks exited to see the legend @msdhoni .. "Aap #Dhoni hain ..mai Dahani hon"#PakVsInd #India vs #Pakistan #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/9xZe6Vq6Yb — Shakir Abbasi (@ShakirAbbasi22) October 22, 2021 × One of the greatest Indian captains of all time, Dhoni is admired by thousands of young cricketers around the globe. He is the only captain to have won all three major ICC trophies and remains an inspiration for many even after retiring from international cricket last year. Also Read: Pakistan's unbeaten streak in Dubai: Why India shouldn't take Babar Azam & Co. lightly in T20 WC 2021 Besides being a successful captain, Dhoni is also one of the best wicket-keeper batters of all time in international cricket with over 10,000 runs in ODIs and a total of 829 dismissals to his name across formats. He is admired and loved by cricketers from several different countries apart from India. The India legend is in the UAE as a mentor for Team India for the T20 World Cup 2021. He will be looking to help Virat Kohli & Co. get off to a winning start against Pakistan on Sunday and go the distance in the showpiece event to clinch glory.

Young Pakistan pacer Shahnawaz Dahani in awe as he meets legend MS Dhoni ahead of IND-PAK clash - WATCH

Mentor MS Dhoni and Billion Cheers Jersey: Why India's T20 World Cup 2021 campaign will be remembered forever

Former Indian captain MS Dhoni was named in India's T20 World Cup 2021 squad as the team mentor. The news went viral in no time as Team India fans were over the moon to know that the 40-year-old will join back the national side in a new role for the marquee event, being held in the UAE.

Ever since Dhoni took up the new role, post IPL 2021, images of the former wicketkeeper-batsman are going viral on social media, donning the Indian team's practice jersey for the showpiece event. On Friday evening (October 22), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a new image of Dhoni where he turned throwdown specialist for the Men in Blue at the nets, ahead of their tournament-opener versus Pakistan on October 24 (Sunday).

Here are the images, shared from BCCI's official Twitter handle. BCCI captioned the post, "Revealing #TeamIndia’s latest throwdown specialist!"

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Revealing <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a>’s latest throwdown specialist! <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> 💪🏾🎯 <a href="https://t.co/COZZgV7Ba6">pic.twitter.com/COZZgV7Ba6</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1451561112051204105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-sunil-gavaskar-decodes-reasons-behind-indias-failures-in-icc-knockouts-423077">T20 WC: Sunil Gavaskar decodes reasons behind India's failures in ICC knockouts</a>

At the pre-tournament press conference, Captain Virat Kohli had opened up on having Dhoni as the team mentor and stated, "He makes a difference when he is in a leadership role in any team. Absolutely delighted to have him in the environment. He will certainly boost the morale of this team further."

"Such practical inputs and such intricate details of where the game is going and where we can improve. Massive experience. He is quite excited about getting back in this environment," Kohli further said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-might-go-bonkers-with-the-bat-after-stepping-aside-as-indias-t20i-captain-wasim-akram-423046">Virat Kohli might go bonkers with the bat after stepping aside as India's T20I captain: Wasim Akram</a>

It was under Dhoni's captaincy when India won the inaugural edition of the T20 WC, in 2007, in South Africa. Mentor Dhoni will like to help Kohli &amp; Co. replicate the same this time around. Meanwhile, Kohli will also be eager to end his T20I captaincy tenure with an ICC title. He is set to resign as India's T20I captain post the mega event.

Former Indian captain MS Dhoni was named in India's T20 World Cup 2021 squad as the team mentor. The news went viral in no time as Team India fans were over the moon to know that the 40-year-old will join back the national side in a new role for the marquee event, being held in the UAE.

Former Indian captain MS Dhoni was named in India's T20 World Cup 2021 squad as the team mentor. The news went viral in no time as Team India fans were over the moon to know that the 40-year-old will join back the national side in a new role for the marquee event, being held in the UAE. Ever since Dhoni took up the new role, post IPL 2021, images of the former wicketkeeper-batsman are going viral on social media, donning the Indian team's practice jersey for the showpiece event. On Friday evening (October 22), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a new image of Dhoni where he turned throwdown specialist for the Men in Blue at the nets, ahead of their tournament-opener versus Pakistan on October 24 (Sunday). Here are the images, shared from BCCI's official Twitter handle. BCCI captioned the post, "Revealing #TeamIndia’s latest throwdown specialist!" Revealing #TeamIndia’s latest throwdown specialist! @msdhoni | #T20WorldCup 💪🏾🎯 pic.twitter.com/COZZgV7Ba6 — BCCI (@BCCI) October 22, 2021 × ALSO READ | T20 WC: Sunil Gavaskar decodes reasons behind India's failures in ICC knockouts At the pre-tournament press conference, Captain Virat Kohli had opened up on having Dhoni as the team mentor and stated, "He makes a difference when he is in a leadership role in any team. Absolutely delighted to have him in the environment. He will certainly boost the morale of this team further." "Such practical inputs and such intricate details of where the game is going and where we can improve. Massive experience. He is quite excited about getting back in this environment," Kohli further said. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli might go bonkers with the bat after stepping aside as India's T20I captain: Wasim Akram It was under Dhoni's captaincy when India won the inaugural edition of the T20 WC, in 2007, in South Africa. Mentor Dhoni will like to help Kohli & Co. replicate the same this time around. Meanwhile, Kohli will also be eager to end his T20I captaincy tenure with an ICC title. He is set to resign as India's T20I captain post the mega event.

T20 WC: Mentor MS Dhoni turns throwdown specialist in Team India nets ahead of Pakistan face-off

A mentor can only help as much because it is the players who will have to go out there and perform the "actual task", the legendary Sunil Gavaskar said on the appointment of Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the Indian team mentor for the T20 World Cup.

India will play Pakistan on Sunday in the Super 12s and Gavaskar feels that in this format Virat Kohli's team can't be termed clear favourites.

"Mentor can't do much," Gavaskar told Aaj Tak. "Yes, he can help you prepare in change room as its a fast-paced game and if needed, help you tweak the tactic."

"May be speak to batters and bowlers during time-out, so the move to employ Dhoni is a good one but Dhoni will be in the change room and its the players who have to perform the actual task in the middle. How they handle pressure would determine what the result will be," Gavaskar said during the event.

Gavaskar feels Kohli will feel lesser pressure now that he has decided to quit captaincy in the T20 format.

"When you become a captain, you can't just think about yourself, he has to speak to a batter who is going through a bad patch or discuss strategies with a bowler.

"Amid all this, one tends to neglect his own form. When you don't have that pressure, you can focus on your own game. I think it will be good for Virat that after T20 World Cup, he doesn't have to think about responsibilities.

"So he can focus on his own game and score as many runs as possible," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/people-call-him-indias-inzamam-shoaib-akhtar-names-india-star-who-is-liked-more-than-virat-kohli-in-pakistan-422882">People call him India's Inzamam:&nbsp;Akhtar names India star who is liked more than Virat Kohli in Pakistan</a>

Gavaskar, one of the most respected voices in world cricket, also pointed out that India's failure to win knock-out games in global tournaments has been primarily due to the faulty team selections.

"India's problem in big matches has been team combination. If they would have got final XI selection right in knock out games, they would have had less problems. At times, your thought process is different," he said.

"In knock-outs and finals, you should bat first, put runs on the board, whatever you put, 140 may be, the other team has to score and it's not always easy to score at seven runs per over in international cricket," he explained.

"So when we haven't batted first, in a chase, if you lose one or two wickets, you consolidate and then catch up becomes a problem and they (Indian batters) have been found wanting."

In T20 cricket, Gavaskar has found one flaw with the Indian batting and that's losing momentum between overs 7 and 12.

"India's batting weakness has been in the overs after Powerplay, between 7 and 12. After 7 overs, we start struggling. It will be great if we can bat well in those four to five overs and score 40 runs," he said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/felt-like-bowling-a-40-ball-over-when-misbah-slammed-harbhajan-for-3-sixes-in-2007-t20-wc-final-423012">'Felt like bowling a 40-ball over': When Misbah slammed Harbhajan for 3 sixes in 2007 T20 WC final</a>

But Gavaskar was pretty clear that India do not start as favourites.

"In T20 cricket, it's not difficult to beat any team. Yes, in Tests, you can say that whether you have that kind of depth in batting or bowling matters. But in T20, no team is favourite and the team that makes less mistakes will win," he said.

Gavaskar had one advice for the teams.

"Just giving it your all at times might not be sufficient. With hard work you also need to use your brain."&nbsp;

A mentor can only help as much because it is the players who will have to go out there and perform the "actual task", the legendary Sunil Gavaskar said on the appointment of Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the Indian team mentor for the T20 World Cup.

A mentor can only help as much because it is the players who will have to go out there and perform the "actual task", the legendary Sunil Gavaskar said on the appointment of Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the Indian team mentor for the T20 World Cup. India will play Pakistan on Sunday in the Super 12s and Gavaskar feels that in this format Virat Kohli's team can't be termed clear favourites. "Mentor can't do much," Gavaskar told Aaj Tak. "Yes, he can help you prepare in change room as its a fast-paced game and if needed, help you tweak the tactic." "May be speak to batters and bowlers during time-out, so the move to employ Dhoni is a good one but Dhoni will be in the change room and its the players who have to perform the actual task in the middle. How they handle pressure would determine what the result will be," Gavaskar said during the event. Gavaskar feels Kohli will feel lesser pressure now that he has decided to quit captaincy in the T20 format. "When you become a captain, you can't just think about yourself, he has to speak to a batter who is going through a bad patch or discuss strategies with a bowler. "Amid all this, one tends to neglect his own form. When you don't have that pressure, you can focus on your own game. I think it will be good for Virat that after T20 World Cup, he doesn't have to think about responsibilities. "So he can focus on his own game and score as many runs as possible," he added. Also Read: People call him India's Inzamam: Akhtar names India star who is liked more than Virat Kohli in Pakistan Gavaskar, one of the most respected voices in world cricket, also pointed out that India's failure to win knock-out games in global tournaments has been primarily due to the faulty team selections. "India's problem in big matches has been team combination. If they would have got final XI selection right in knock out games, they would have had less problems. At times, your thought process is different," he said. "In knock-outs and finals, you should bat first, put runs on the board, whatever you put, 140 may be, the other team has to score and it's not always easy to score at seven runs per over in international cricket," he explained. "So when we haven't batted first, in a chase, if you lose one or two wickets, you consolidate and then catch up becomes a problem and they (Indian batters) have been found wanting." In T20 cricket, Gavaskar has found one flaw with the Indian batting and that's losing momentum between overs 7 and 12. "India's batting weakness has been in the overs after Powerplay, between 7 and 12. After 7 overs, we start struggling. It will be great if we can bat well in those four to five overs and score 40 runs," he said. ALSO READ: 'Felt like bowling a 40-ball over': When Misbah slammed Harbhajan for 3 sixes in 2007 T20 WC final But Gavaskar was pretty clear that India do not start as favourites. "In T20 cricket, it's not difficult to beat any team. Yes, in Tests, you can say that whether you have that kind of depth in batting or bowling matters. But in T20, no team is favourite and the team that makes less mistakes will win," he said. Gavaskar had one advice for the teams. "Just giving it your all at times might not be sufficient. With hard work you also need to use your brain."

T20 World Cup: Mentors can't do much, it's players who have to perform: Sunil Gavaskar on MS Dhoni

India is a cricket-crazy nation as the gentlemen's game continues to grow with each passing day. Hence, it is often said that cricketers are literally worshipped in India. The sport remains a big reason for the cricketers' immense fan-following but often their acting skills catches the attention of fans.

Over the years, many Indian cricketers have given fans plenty to cheer for courtesy their acting skills and hilarious chemistry in front of the camera, for various commercials. While many of such ads might be old in today's times, the recall value remains immense due to the Indian cricketers' presence and acting. Here our few compilations of some of the most iconic ads featuring Team India stars, such as Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar along with Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, etc.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rahul-dravid-set-to-replace-ravi-shastri-as-team-indias-new-head-coach-after-t20-world-cup-2021-421166">Rahul Dravid set to replace Ravi Shastri as team India's new head coach after T20 World Cup 2021</a>

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-mentor-ms-dhoni-helps-rishabh-pant-with-wicketkeeping-drills-amid-ind-aus-t20-wc-warm-up-tie-422370">Watch: 'Mentor' MS Dhoni helps Rishabh Pant with wicketkeeping drills amid IND-AUS T20 WC warm-up tie</a>

Even in today's times, the likes of Dravid, Neeraj Chopra (CRED advertisements) and many others continue to entertain fans with their acting skills before the camera. While it not only helps them in engaging with the viewers and spreading their fan-following further, it also ensures&nbsp;the product they are advertising get sold in large numbers. Thus, it remains a win-win situation for all involved.&nbsp;

Talking about the Indian cricket team, the Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue are currently gearing up for their T20 World Cup 2021 tournament-opener, versus Pakistan on October 24 (Sunday) at Dubai. The marquee event commenced on October 17 with the qualifying round.

India is a cricket-crazy nation as the gentlemen's game continues to grow with each passing day. Hence, it is often said that cricketers are literally worshipped in India.

India is a cricket-crazy nation as the gentlemen's game continues to grow with each passing day. Hence, it is often said that cricketers are literally worshipped in India. The sport remains a big reason for the cricketers' immense fan-following but often their acting skills catches the attention of fans. Over the years, many Indian cricketers have given fans plenty to cheer for courtesy their acting skills and hilarious chemistry in front of the camera, for various commercials. While many of such ads might be old in today's times, the recall value remains immense due to the Indian cricketers' presence and acting. Here our few compilations of some of the most iconic ads featuring Team India stars, such as Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar along with Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, etc. ALSO READ | Rahul Dravid set to replace Ravi Shastri as team India's new head coach after T20 World Cup 2021 × × × ALSO READ | Watch: 'Mentor' MS Dhoni helps Rishabh Pant with wicketkeeping drills amid IND-AUS T20 WC warm-up tie Even in today's times, the likes of Dravid, Neeraj Chopra (CRED advertisements) and many others continue to entertain fans with their acting skills before the camera. While it not only helps them in engaging with the viewers and spreading their fan-following further, it also ensures the product they are advertising get sold in large numbers. Thus, it remains a win-win situation for all involved. Talking about the Indian cricket team, the Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue are currently gearing up for their T20 World Cup 2021 tournament-opener, versus Pakistan on October 24 (Sunday) at Dubai. The marquee event commenced on October 17 with the qualifying round.

From Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni to Sachin Tendulkar: Reliving vintage commercials featuring Indian cricketers

Virat Kohli's Team India are playing their second warm-up encounter on Wednesday afternoon (October 20), versus Australia, at the ICC Academy Ground, Dubai ahead of the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2021. The Men in Blue are trying to finalise their team combination and get their players some match-time ahead of the Super 12 round.

As Kohli opted out from leading India in the second warm-up match, Rohit Sharma came out for the coin toss and confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have been rested as well.

During Aaron Finch-led Australia's innings, as they opted to bat first, mentor MS Dhoni was seen assisting Rishabh Pant with his wicketkeeping drills on the sidelines.&nbsp;The video went viral in no time as the former Indian captain Dhoni was seen helping out his successor Pant, in a bid to hone his skills ahead of India's T20 WC opener, versus Pakistan on October 24 (Sunday) at Dubai. Here's the video:

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dont-know-how-india-get-favourites-tag-says-michael-vaughan-ahead-of-virat-kohli-cos-pakistan-tie-422332">Don’t know how India get favourites tag, says Michael Vaughan ahead of Virat Kohli &amp; Co.'s Pakistan tie</a>

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Mentor MS Dhoni &amp; Rishabh Pant <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MSDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MSDhoni</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvAUS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvAUS</a> <a href="https://t.co/zlifcdDP4j">pic.twitter.com/zlifcdDP4j</a>
— Shoronjeet Banerjee (@shoronjeet02) <a href="https://twitter.com/shoronjeet02/status/1450769837907611654?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-fan-asks-shaheen-afridi-for-indo-pak-match-tickets-pacer-responds-in-hilarious-manner-watch-422308">T20 WC: Fan asks Shaheen Afridi for Indo-Pak match tickets, pacer responds in hilarious manner - Watch</a>

Dhoni has been roped in as a mentor for Team India for the marquee tournament, in order to help Virat Kohli &amp; Co. break their 8-year-old ICC-title drought and win their second title in the T20 WC history. It was under Dhoni when India won the inaugural edition, in 2007, in South Africa. Since then, the Men in Blue came close in the 2014 edition but ended as runners-up whereas the last edition saw them bow out in the semi-finals.

Talking about Pant, the swashbuckling left-hander was in good touch in the first warm-up fixture, between India and England, as his cameo (14-ball 29*) helped Kohli &amp; Co. beat England by 7 wickets. His form in the middle and lower-order will be crucial for India in the tournament.

India are placed in Pool B along with Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers.

Virat Kohli's Team India are playing their second warm-up encounter on Wednesday afternoon (October 20), versus Australia, at the ICC Academy Ground, Dubai ahead of the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2021.

Virat Kohli's Team India are playing their second warm-up encounter on Wednesday afternoon (October 20), versus Australia, at the ICC Academy Ground, Dubai ahead of the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2021. The Men in Blue are trying to finalise their team combination and get their players some match-time ahead of the Super 12 round. As Kohli opted out from leading India in the second warm-up match, Rohit Sharma came out for the coin toss and confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have been rested as well. During Aaron Finch-led Australia's innings, as they opted to bat first, mentor MS Dhoni was seen assisting Rishabh Pant with his wicketkeeping drills on the sidelines. The video went viral in no time as the former Indian captain Dhoni was seen helping out his successor Pant, in a bid to hone his skills ahead of India's T20 WC opener, versus Pakistan on October 24 (Sunday) at Dubai. Here's the video: ALSO READ | Don’t know how India get favourites tag, says Michael Vaughan ahead of Virat Kohli & Co.'s Pakistan tie Mentor MS Dhoni & Rishabh Pant #T20WorldCup #MSDhoni #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/zlifcdDP4j — Shoronjeet Banerjee (@shoronjeet02) October 20, 2021 × ALSO READ | T20 WC: Fan asks Shaheen Afridi for Indo-Pak match tickets, pacer responds in hilarious manner - Watch Dhoni has been roped in as a mentor for Team India for the marquee tournament, in order to help Virat Kohli & Co. break their 8-year-old ICC-title drought and win their second title in the T20 WC history. It was under Dhoni when India won the inaugural edition, in 2007, in South Africa. Since then, the Men in Blue came close in the 2014 edition but ended as runners-up whereas the last edition saw them bow out in the semi-finals. Talking about Pant, the swashbuckling left-hander was in good touch in the first warm-up fixture, between India and England, as his cameo (14-ball 29*) helped Kohli & Co. beat England by 7 wickets. His form in the middle and lower-order will be crucial for India in the tournament. India are placed in Pool B along with Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers.

Watch: 'Mentor' MS Dhoni helps Rishabh Pant with wicketkeeping drills amid IND-AUS T20 WC warm-up tie

MS Dhoni, after leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth title in IPL 2021, has joined the Team India camp as a mentor for the T20 World Cup 2021, in the UAE. The 40-year-old's presence will help Virat Kohli &amp; Co. for the marquee event as the Indian team is looking to end their ICC-title drought after having last won a mega event in 2013.

For the unversed, India had won the last ICC title in 2013 under the astute leadership of Dhoni, when the Men in Blue won the Champions Trophy. Since then, they have reached the semi-finals on all occasions in the following ICC events, however, haven't been able to grab hold of the title. As India are gearing up for their tournament-opener versus Pakistan, on October 24, KL Rahul opened up on Dhoni's mentorship role for the T20 WC.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-pakistani-internet-sensation-returns-with-a-hilarious-video-as-indo-pak-clash-nears-watch-422058">T20 WC: Pakistani internet sensation returns with a hilarious video as Indo-Pak clash nears - WATCH</a>

During a Clubhouse session organised by&nbsp;Red Bull&nbsp;on Tuesday, Rahul -- who had his international debut under Dhoni -- revealed, "None of us are sure that IPL 2021 final was his last game. I do not think, I would love to see MS Dhoni play for a lot more years if he could. Yeah, it was great to see how CSK played in the tournament and they were the most deserving to win it. Obviously, MS Dhoni back with the team feels amazing because we have played under him and we have looked towards him as a mentor even when he was our captain."&nbsp;&nbsp;

"We loved having him in the dressing room when he was the captain, we loved the calmness. We have all looked up to him to help us out, to have him here is amazing. This gives us a sense of calmness, I have enjoyed spending time with him in the first two to three days and it has been a lot of fun. Looking forward to chewing his brain about cricket, captaincy and all things cricket," he added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dale-steyn-names-virat-kohlis-replacement-as-indias-t20i-captain-he-can-nurture-pant-others-422047">Dale Steyn names Virat Kohli's replacement as India's T20I captain: He can nurture Pant &amp; others</a>

Rahul was one of India's star-performers in their first warm-up encounter, versus England, on Monday evening (October 18). His 24-ball 51 and Ishan Kishan's 46-ball 70 propelled Kohli &amp; Co. to an easy 7-wicket win over the 2016 runners-up. They will now play Australia in their last warm-up game before locking horns with Pakistan.

India are in Pool B, along with Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers. It will be interesting to see how Dhoni contributes for Team India in his new role and helps the national side in winning the coveted trophy.

MS Dhoni, after leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth title in IPL 2021, has joined the Team India camp as a mentor for the T20 World Cup 2021, in the UAE.

MS Dhoni, after leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth title in IPL 2021, has joined the Team India camp as a mentor for the T20 World Cup 2021, in the UAE. The 40-year-old's presence will help Virat Kohli & Co. for the marquee event as the Indian team is looking to end their ICC-title drought after having last won a mega event in 2013. For the unversed, India had won the last ICC title in 2013 under the astute leadership of Dhoni, when the Men in Blue won the Champions Trophy. Since then, they have reached the semi-finals on all occasions in the following ICC events, however, haven't been able to grab hold of the title. As India are gearing up for their tournament-opener versus Pakistan, on October 24, KL Rahul opened up on Dhoni's mentorship role for the T20 WC. ALSO READ | T20 WC: Pakistani internet sensation returns with a hilarious video as Indo-Pak clash nears - WATCH During a Clubhouse session organised by Red Bull on Tuesday, Rahul -- who had his international debut under Dhoni -- revealed, "None of us are sure that IPL 2021 final was his last game. I do not think, I would love to see MS Dhoni play for a lot more years if he could. Yeah, it was great to see how CSK played in the tournament and they were the most deserving to win it. Obviously, MS Dhoni back with the team feels amazing because we have played under him and we have looked towards him as a mentor even when he was our captain." "We loved having him in the dressing room when he was the captain, we loved the calmness. We have all looked up to him to help us out, to have him here is amazing. This gives us a sense of calmness, I have enjoyed spending time with him in the first two to three days and it has been a lot of fun. Looking forward to chewing his brain about cricket, captaincy and all things cricket," he added. ALSO READ | Dale Steyn names Virat Kohli's replacement as India's T20I captain: He can nurture Pant & others Rahul was one of India's star-performers in their first warm-up encounter, versus England, on Monday evening (October 18). His 24-ball 51 and Ishan Kishan's 46-ball 70 propelled Kohli & Co. to an easy 7-wicket win over the 2016 runners-up. They will now play Australia in their last warm-up game before locking horns with Pakistan. India are in Pool B, along with Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers. It will be interesting to see how Dhoni contributes for Team India in his new role and helps the national side in winning the coveted trophy.

'He was our mentor even when he was captain' - KL Rahul gives his take on MS Dhoni's mentorship role in T20 WC

Former Pakistan cricketer Tanvir Ahmed has claimed that Team India are under pressure heading into the T20 World Cup 2021 which is the reason why they have appointed former captain MS Dhoni as a mentor for the tournament. Dhoni has returned to the Indian dressing room, a year after announcing his retirement from international cricket and will be mentoring the Indian team in the showpiece event in UAE and Oman.

India will open their campaign against Pakistan with a blockbuster clash at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24. Ahead of the much-anticipated clash, Ahmed shared his views on India's chances at the showpiece event and insisted that India are a top team but their recent performances have not been up to the mark.

He also pointed out how Virat Kohli's decision to step down as T20 captain after the World Cup shows that he is under pressure and so is the team. The former Pakistan cricketer also raised questions over India's T20 World Cup squad and said most of the players selected were not in the top ten performers in the recently-concluded IPL 2021.

“On paper, there is no doubt that India is a top team. The way they have played cricket around the world, but you have to look at recent performances. Firstly, I’d like to talk about Virat Kohli. He was under a lot of pressure and he quit T20 captaincy. He said I won’t captain in T20s as my performances have not been great," Ahmed said in a show on ARY News and ABP News.

“Then, maybe they were under pressure so they are taking MS Dhoni as a mentor. Even if you look at the IPL, the players in India’s squad were not among the top 10 performers. Their spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have not done very well, so of course, there will be pressure,” he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-not-bowling-bhuvneshwar-looks-out-of-rhythm-parthiv-patel-on-indias-concerns-in-t20-wc-2021-421992">Hardik not bowling, Bhuvneshwar looks out of rhythm: Parthiv Patel on India's concerns in T20 WC 2021</a>

India will head into the T20 World Cup 2021 as one of the favourites for the title with significant firepower in their batting and bowling. Having Dhoni as a mentor will also help some of the youngsters deal with the pressure of playing on the biggest stage of them all.

India will face New Zealand on October 31 after the much-anticipated opener against Pakistan before locking horns with Afghanistan in their next game.

&nbsp;

Former Pakistan cricketer Tanvir Ahmed has claimed that Team India are under pressure heading into the T20 World Cup 2021 which is the reason why they have appointed former captain MS Dhoni as a mentor for the tournament.

Former Pakistan cricketer Tanvir Ahmed has claimed that Team India are under pressure heading into the T20 World Cup 2021 which is the reason why they have appointed former captain MS Dhoni as a mentor for the tournament. Dhoni has returned to the Indian dressing room, a year after announcing his retirement from international cricket and will be mentoring the Indian team in the showpiece event in UAE and Oman. India will open their campaign against Pakistan with a blockbuster clash at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24. Ahead of the much-anticipated clash, Ahmed shared his views on India's chances at the showpiece event and insisted that India are a top team but their recent performances have not been up to the mark. He also pointed out how Virat Kohli's decision to step down as T20 captain after the World Cup shows that he is under pressure and so is the team. The former Pakistan cricketer also raised questions over India's T20 World Cup squad and said most of the players selected were not in the top ten performers in the recently-concluded IPL 2021. “On paper, there is no doubt that India is a top team. The way they have played cricket around the world, but you have to look at recent performances. Firstly, I’d like to talk about Virat Kohli. He was under a lot of pressure and he quit T20 captaincy. He said I won’t captain in T20s as my performances have not been great," Ahmed said in a show on ARY News and ABP News. “Then, maybe they were under pressure so they are taking MS Dhoni as a mentor. Even if you look at the IPL, the players in India’s squad were not among the top 10 performers. Their spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have not done very well, so of course, there will be pressure,” he added. Also Read: Hardik not bowling, Bhuvneshwar looks out of rhythm: Parthiv Patel on India's concerns in T20 WC 2021 India will head into the T20 World Cup 2021 as one of the favourites for the title with significant firepower in their batting and bowling. Having Dhoni as a mentor will also help some of the youngsters deal with the pressure of playing on the biggest stage of them all. India will face New Zealand on October 31 after the much-anticipated opener against Pakistan before locking horns with Afghanistan in their next game.

T20 WC: India under pressure, that’s why they are taking MS Dhoni as mentor, says former Pakistan cricketer

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won their fourth IPL championship in the recently-concluded IPL 2021 edition's second and final leg, played in the UAE. Featuring in their 9th IPL final, MS Dhoni &amp; Co. beat Eoin Morgan-led Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs to clinch their fourth IPL trophy and moved past their disastrous 2020 campaign, where they ended at the seventh spot and missed out on the playoffs spot for the first time in the tournament-history.

CSK ended the first leg, in India, with five wins from seven encounters and were the second-best side in the points table when Covid-19 crisis postponed the tournament in early May. In the final leg in the UAE, Dhoni &amp; Co. resumed in a similar manner before they lost three back-to-back games after ensuring their playoffs berth. Come the knockouts, Dhoni-led Yellow Army brought their A-game, beating table-toppers Delhi Capitals (DC) in Qualifier 2, and KKR in the summit clash.&nbsp;

While Dhoni didn't have a memorable run with the bat, he excelled as a keeper and captain. In Qualifier 1, Dhoni performed his best with the bat courtesy a 6-ball 18* to take CSK to the final. Commenting on CSK's memorable triumph, the former BCCI President N Srinivasan praised his franchise's talismanic captain and told reporters during a brief interaction after visiting Lord Venkatachalapathy temple in Chennai with the IPL trophy, "It was a remarkable win", adding that it “put Chennai on top of the world. Dhoni is part and parcel of CSK, Chennai and Tamil Nadu. There is no CSK without Dhoni and there is no Dhoni without CSK."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/are-you-coming-hardik-pandya-reveals-how-ms-dhoni-knew-about-his-surprise-ranchi-visit-in-2020-421865">'Are you coming?' - Hardik Pandya reveals how MS Dhoni knew about his surprise Ranchi visit in 2020</a>

While Dhoni remained silent on his IPL future, the CSK franchise has maintained that the 40-year-old legendary captain's future will depend upon the retention policy, ahead of the mega auction later this year for IPL 2022. "The rules of retention are not clear yet...We are not sure about the number of retentions that will be allowed. And a call on that will be made once the rules are known," the official told PTI when asked about the possibility of using a retention card to retain the Dhoni.

It will be interesting to see if Dhoni, who has 4,746 runs and 165 dismissals in IPL, will return as a player for CSK or don a new role for the franchise in IPL 2022.

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won their fourth IPL championship in the recently-concluded IPL 2021 edition's second and final leg, played in the UAE. Featuring in their 9th IPL final, MS Dhoni & Co.

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won their fourth IPL championship in the recently-concluded IPL 2021 edition's second and final leg, played in the UAE. Featuring in their 9th IPL final, MS Dhoni & Co. beat Eoin Morgan-led Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs to clinch their fourth IPL trophy and moved past their disastrous 2020 campaign, where they ended at the seventh spot and missed out on the playoffs spot for the first time in the tournament-history. CSK ended the first leg, in India, with five wins from seven encounters and were the second-best side in the points table when Covid-19 crisis postponed the tournament in early May. In the final leg in the UAE, Dhoni & Co. resumed in a similar manner before they lost three back-to-back games after ensuring their playoffs berth. Come the knockouts, Dhoni-led Yellow Army brought their A-game, beating table-toppers Delhi Capitals (DC) in Qualifier 2, and KKR in the summit clash. While Dhoni didn't have a memorable run with the bat, he excelled as a keeper and captain. In Qualifier 1, Dhoni performed his best with the bat courtesy a 6-ball 18* to take CSK to the final. Commenting on CSK's memorable triumph, the former BCCI President N Srinivasan praised his franchise's talismanic captain and told reporters during a brief interaction after visiting Lord Venkatachalapathy temple in Chennai with the IPL trophy, "It was a remarkable win", adding that it “put Chennai on top of the world. Dhoni is part and parcel of CSK, Chennai and Tamil Nadu. There is no CSK without Dhoni and there is no Dhoni without CSK." ALSO READ | 'Are you coming?' - Hardik Pandya reveals how MS Dhoni knew about his surprise Ranchi visit in 2020 While Dhoni remained silent on his IPL future, the CSK franchise has maintained that the 40-year-old legendary captain's future will depend upon the retention policy, ahead of the mega auction later this year for IPL 2022. "The rules of retention are not clear yet...We are not sure about the number of retentions that will be allowed. And a call on that will be made once the rules are known," the official told PTI when asked about the possibility of using a retention card to retain the Dhoni. It will be interesting to see if Dhoni, who has 4,746 runs and 165 dismissals in IPL, will return as a player for CSK or don a new role for the franchise in IPL 2022.

'No CSK without MS Dhoni' - N Srinivasan lavishes huge praise on Yellow Army's skipper post IPL 2021 win

During the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, Hardik Pandya -- along with Krunal Pandya and his wife -- had planned a trip to Ranchi to meet their beloved and former Indian captain MS Dhoni. The Pandya brothers had planned their surprise visit to Ranchi for Dhoni's 39th birthday, i.e. on July 7.

Back then, the Covid-19 pandemic had taken the whole world by surprise. After a brief halt, airlines had resumed operating but the Pandya brothers' plan to visit Dhoni amid such testing times spoke volumes about how much they adore the former Indian captain Dhoni.&nbsp;

In a recent interaction with ESPNcricinfo, Hardik, revealed how his surprise visit to Ranchi didn't shock Dhoni as he was already made aware of the Pandya brothers' travel plans. On being asked if Dhoni was surprised seeing him, Hardik said, "No! Because [someone from the airport staff] called him, saying Hardik and Krunal are coming. So my surprise got spoiled. Before I took off, he is like: “Are you coming here?” I said: “How did you know?” He said: “These charter people told me you’re coming.&nbsp;Chal, theek hai, aaja&nbsp;[All right, come over].

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gautam-gambhir-shares-his-thoughts-on-ms-dhoni-mentoring-virat-kohli-led-team-india-in-t20-world-cup-421819">Gautam Gambhir shares his thoughts on MS Dhoni mentoring Virat Kohli-led Team India in T20 World Cup</a>

“I go there and find him gardening. I asked how his body was and he said his knee hurt a little. I asked why. He says, “I repaired about 50 bikes, and I needed to kneel and squat for it. Now I do it standing up,” he added.

Hardik also spoke at length about the equation he has with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper.&nbsp;He said, "Mahi Bhai is a darling. There are a lot of things I am allowed [with him], which no one else is. We connect well. Maybe he likes the fact that I never treat him like MS Dhoni. And he understands where I come from. He is like, Okay, yeh&nbsp;kar raha hai toh kuch soch ke kar raha hai&nbsp;[If Hardik is doing something, it’s only after he has considered it] type."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/awwdorable-moment-hardik-pandya-gets-interrupted-by-son-agastya-during-an-interview-before-t20-wc-watch-421808">Awwdorable moment| Hardik Pandya gets interrupted by son Agastya during an interview before T20 WC - Watch</a>

At present, Hardik is involved in India's warm-up fixtures for the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE. Dhoni is also a part of the team management; serving as the mentor for the showpiece event to help Virat Kohli &amp; Co. break their 8-year-long ICC-title drought.&nbsp;

During the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, Hardik Pandya -- along with Krunal Pandya and his wife -- had planned a trip to Ranchi to meet their beloved and former Indian captain MS Dhoni.

During the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, Hardik Pandya -- along with Krunal Pandya and his wife -- had planned a trip to Ranchi to meet their beloved and former Indian captain MS Dhoni. The Pandya brothers had planned their surprise visit to Ranchi for Dhoni's 39th birthday, i.e. on July 7. Back then, the Covid-19 pandemic had taken the whole world by surprise. After a brief halt, airlines had resumed operating but the Pandya brothers' plan to visit Dhoni amid such testing times spoke volumes about how much they adore the former Indian captain Dhoni. In a recent interaction with ESPNcricinfo, Hardik, revealed how his surprise visit to Ranchi didn't shock Dhoni as he was already made aware of the Pandya brothers' travel plans. On being asked if Dhoni was surprised seeing him, Hardik said, "No! Because [someone from the airport staff] called him, saying Hardik and Krunal are coming. So my surprise got spoiled. Before I took off, he is like: “Are you coming here?” I said: “How did you know?” He said: “These charter people told me you’re coming. Chal, theek hai, aaja [All right, come over]. ALSO READ | Gautam Gambhir shares his thoughts on MS Dhoni mentoring Virat Kohli-led Team India in T20 World Cup “I go there and find him gardening. I asked how his body was and he said his knee hurt a little. I asked why. He says, “I repaired about 50 bikes, and I needed to kneel and squat for it. Now I do it standing up,” he added. Hardik also spoke at length about the equation he has with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper. He said, "Mahi Bhai is a darling. There are a lot of things I am allowed [with him], which no one else is. We connect well. Maybe he likes the fact that I never treat him like MS Dhoni. And he understands where I come from. He is like, Okay, yeh kar raha hai toh kuch soch ke kar raha hai [If Hardik is doing something, it’s only after he has considered it] type." ALSO READ | Awwdorable moment| Hardik Pandya gets interrupted by son Agastya during an interview before T20 WC - Watch At present, Hardik is involved in India's warm-up fixtures for the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE. Dhoni is also a part of the team management; serving as the mentor for the showpiece event to help Virat Kohli & Co. break their 8-year-long ICC-title drought.

'Are you coming?' - Hardik Pandya reveals how MS Dhoni knew about his surprise Ranchi visit in 2020

Team India's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya recently opened up on his special bond with former captain MS Dhoni. Pandya revealed Dhoni is like a brother to him who understood him right from the time when he first came into the Indian national side and supported him through thick and thin to play an important role in his rise as a cricketer.

Hardik made his India debut under Dhoni's captaincy in 2016 and went on to establish his credentials as one of the top all-rounders in the world. Hardik has been out of the Indian Test squad for a while now due to a back injury that has hampered his bowling, however, he remains a vital cog in India's white-ball teams.

Hardik said he is very close to Dhoni and admires him for being there when the all-rounder needed support from the former captain, who has helped a number of youngsters by sharing his experiences with them. Hardik insisted he never saw Dhoni as one of the great cricketers of India but as a brother who was there when he needed him.

"He was. MS was someone who understood me from the start: how I function, what kind of a person I am, what are the things I don't like, everything," Hardik told ESPNCricinfo's CricketMonthly.

"He knows what kind of an individual I am. He knows me quite deep. I am very close to him. He is the only person who can make me calm. When all this happened (the television show controversy), he knew that I needed support. I just needed a shoulder, which he provided multiple times in my cricketing career. I never saw him as MS Dhoni the greatest. For me, Mahi is my brother. I respect and admire the fact that he was there when I needed him the most," Hardik added.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/irelands-curtis-campher-becomes-first-bowler-to-take-four-wickets-in-four-balls-in-t20-world-cup-421807">&nbsp;Ireland's Curtis Campher becomes first bowler to take four wickets in four balls in T20 World Cup</a>

While opening up on his conversations with Dhoni, who is one of India's most successful captains of all time and an icon of Indian cricket, Hardik said he doesn't like people calling him 'Mr cool'. Dhoni is often referred to as Captain Cool for keeping a calm demeanour even in the most pressurising&nbsp;situations on the field when leading a team.

“Staying with him, obviously, you learn to be mature, you learn to become humble. I have learned a lot by watching him. He never loses his cool," said Hardik.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-would-be-working-at-a-petrol-pump-if-not-for-money-in-cricket-hardik-pandya-421729">&nbsp;I would be working at a petrol pump if not for money in cricket: Hardik Pandya</a>

"Not cool – I don’t like the word, and people calling him Mr Cool does not suit him. For me, he is always stable. When he goes out, people are always going to him with requests for photos and xyz. I have thoroughly copied how he behaves outside. When I go out now, no matter how many people are there, there will always be a big smile on my face," he explained.

Team India's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya recently opened up on his special bond with former captain MS Dhoni. Pandya revealed Dhoni is like a brother to him who understood him right from the time when he first came into the Indian national side and supported him through thick and thin to play an important role in his rise as a cricketer.

Team India's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya recently opened up on his special bond with former captain MS Dhoni. Pandya revealed Dhoni is like a brother to him who understood him right from the time when he first came into the Indian national side and supported him through thick and thin to play an important role in his rise as a cricketer. Hardik made his India debut under Dhoni's captaincy in 2016 and went on to establish his credentials as one of the top all-rounders in the world. Hardik has been out of the Indian Test squad for a while now due to a back injury that has hampered his bowling, however, he remains a vital cog in India's white-ball teams. Hardik said he is very close to Dhoni and admires him for being there when the all-rounder needed support from the former captain, who has helped a number of youngsters by sharing his experiences with them. Hardik insisted he never saw Dhoni as one of the great cricketers of India but as a brother who was there when he needed him. "He was. MS was someone who understood me from the start: how I function, what kind of a person I am, what are the things I don't like, everything," Hardik told ESPNCricinfo's CricketMonthly. "He knows what kind of an individual I am. He knows me quite deep. I am very close to him. He is the only person who can make me calm. When all this happened (the television show controversy), he knew that I needed support. I just needed a shoulder, which he provided multiple times in my cricketing career. I never saw him as MS Dhoni the greatest. For me, Mahi is my brother. I respect and admire the fact that he was there when I needed him the most," Hardik added. Also Read: Ireland's Curtis Campher becomes first bowler to take four wickets in four balls in T20 World Cup While opening up on his conversations with Dhoni, who is one of India's most successful captains of all time and an icon of Indian cricket, Hardik said he doesn't like people calling him 'Mr cool'. Dhoni is often referred to as Captain Cool for keeping a calm demeanour even in the most pressurising situations on the field when leading a team. “Staying with him, obviously, you learn to be mature, you learn to become humble. I have learned a lot by watching him. He never loses his cool," said Hardik. Also Read: I would be working at a petrol pump if not for money in cricket: Hardik Pandya "Not cool – I don’t like the word, and people calling him Mr Cool does not suit him. For me, he is always stable. When he goes out, people are always going to him with requests for photos and xyz. I have thoroughly copied how he behaves outside. When I go out now, no matter how many people are there, there will always be a big smile on my face," he explained.

Hardik Pandya explains why he doesn't like people calling MS Dhoni 'cool'

When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-man squad for Virat Kohli-led Team India's T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE, they pulled off a big surprise as MS Dhoni was appointed as the team mentor for the ICC event.&nbsp;

Given that India haven't won an ICC title under Virat Kohli, Dhoni was included in the Indian team setup to help the youngsters and Kohli during the mega tournament in the UAE. Ahead of India's campaign in the seventh edition of the showpiece event, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has opened up on Dhoni's mentorship role and revealed how it would help the national side in an event where the stakes will be high on every encounter for Team India.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/awwdorable-moment-hardik-pandya-gets-interrupted-by-son-agastya-during-an-interview-before-t20-wc-watch-421808">Awwdorable moment| Hardik Pandya gets interrupted by son Agastya during an interview before T20 WC - Watch</a>

Speaking on Star Sports' show Follow The Blues, Gambhir said, "To share his experience with some of the young guys who are playing their first World Cup, which is going to be very important because playing in the World Cup is a completely different piece. So, you would need that experienced someone who's been there done that. So, MS could definitely try and share all his experiences with some of the young cricketers."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-t20-world-cup-2021-prediction-who-will-win-todays-warm-up-match-between-india-and-england-421790">IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's warm-up match between India and England?</a>

Under he 40-year-old Dhoni, India won all three ICC titles. It was under his astute leadership that the Men in Blue won the inaugural edition in 2007 in South Africa, also including Gambhir. India's last ICC title has also come under the former Indian skipper's leadership; i.e. the 2013 Champions Trophy.&nbsp;

Kohli-led India are set to play two warm-up encounters, versus England and Australia, before they kickoff their campaign in the main draw of the tournament. India face Pakistan on October 24, in Dubai, in their first game and are placed in Pool B, alongside New Zealand, Men in Green, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifying round.

When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-man squad for Virat Kohli-led Team India's T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE, they pulled off a big surprise as MS Dhoni was appointed as the team mentor for the ICC event.

When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-man squad for Virat Kohli-led Team India's T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE, they pulled off a big surprise as MS Dhoni was appointed as the team mentor for the ICC event. Given that India haven't won an ICC title under Virat Kohli, Dhoni was included in the Indian team setup to help the youngsters and Kohli during the mega tournament in the UAE. Ahead of India's campaign in the seventh edition of the showpiece event, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has opened up on Dhoni's mentorship role and revealed how it would help the national side in an event where the stakes will be high on every encounter for Team India. ALSO READ | Awwdorable moment| Hardik Pandya gets interrupted by son Agastya during an interview before T20 WC - Watch Speaking on Star Sports' show Follow The Blues, Gambhir said, "To share his experience with some of the young guys who are playing their first World Cup, which is going to be very important because playing in the World Cup is a completely different piece. So, you would need that experienced someone who's been there done that. So, MS could definitely try and share all his experiences with some of the young cricketers." ALSO READ | IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's warm-up match between India and England? Under he 40-year-old Dhoni, India won all three ICC titles. It was under his astute leadership that the Men in Blue won the inaugural edition in 2007 in South Africa, also including Gambhir. India's last ICC title has also come under the former Indian skipper's leadership; i.e. the 2013 Champions Trophy. Kohli-led India are set to play two warm-up encounters, versus England and Australia, before they kickoff their campaign in the main draw of the tournament. India face Pakistan on October 24, in Dubai, in their first game and are placed in Pool B, alongside New Zealand, Men in Green, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifying round.

Gautam Gambhir shares his thoughts on MS Dhoni mentoring Virat Kohli-led Team India in T20 World Cup

Virat Kohli-led Team India will begin their campaign in the seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with their first of the two warm-up encounters, versus Eoin Morgan-led England on Monday (October 18). The one-time winners are starting their campaign versus one of the strongest contenders for the marquee title. Hence, the Men in Blue will be on their toes and eager&nbsp;to tick some of the boxes in the warm-up encounters before the main draw of the tournament kicks off from October 23.

For the unversed, India played their last T20I -- comprising full-strength side -- versus England in early 2021. Hence, both sides are fully aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses. What will be interesting to see is how the two teams go ahead, in terms of the team combinations, in the warm-up face-off.&nbsp;

For Kohli-led India, they have plenty of questions to answer. In their last game versus England, during the five-match T20Is in India in February-March, KL Rahul didn't open in the series-decider as Kohli-Rohit Sharma came out as openers. Back then, Rahul was in torrid form. Will Kohli continue as an opener despite Rahul's brilliant form in IPL 14's second and final leg in the UAE? Moreover, it will be interesting to see how many spinners get included in the India XI. At present, they have options in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy. Given the recent form, Varun and Jadeja seem like a certain in the XI. However, Varun's fitness was an issue in the last few games in IPL 2021. Hence, the focus will be on him.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-would-be-working-at-a-petrol-pump-if-not-for-money-in-cricket-hardik-pandya-421729">&nbsp;I would be working at a petrol pump if not for money in cricket: Hardik Pandya</a>

India also have a veteran and experienced campaigner in Ashwin. However, he was off-colours in the second and final IPL 14 leg. Hence, he might not make it to the first XI so easily. The biggest factor among all will be Hardik Pandya's bowling. Will the all-rounder finally contribute with some overs? He didn't bowl a single over in IPL 14's final leg in the UAE. On the other hand, Shardul Thakur -- one of the most-successful bowlers for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2021 -- is very likely to be in India's XI for their first warm-up fixture.

The team management will also closely monitor Bhuvneshwar Kumar's form, who wasn't at his best for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the just-concluded IPL season. Lastly, Ishan Kishan returned back to form in the last few games for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 14. Will he get a look-in as well?&nbsp;

India's playing XI for England warm-up tie: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy

If Hardik doesn't plan to bowl, India will have to make way for another pacer; which might also prompt them to drop the 27-year-old.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-stakes-are-always-high-ajit-agarkar-on-india-pakistan-t20-world-cup-clash-421641">'The stakes are always high': Ajit Agarkar on India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash</a>

Squads

India:&nbsp;Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Varun Chakravarthy, Rahul Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya.

England:&nbsp;Eoin Morgan (capt), Jason Roy, Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Jos Buttler (wk), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

Virat Kohli-led Team India will begin their campaign in the seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with their first of the two warm-up encounters, versus Eoin Morgan-led England on Monday (October 18).

Virat Kohli-led Team India will begin their campaign in the seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with their first of the two warm-up encounters, versus Eoin Morgan-led England on Monday (October 18). The one-time winners are starting their campaign versus one of the strongest contenders for the marquee title. Hence, the Men in Blue will be on their toes and eager to tick some of the boxes in the warm-up encounters before the main draw of the tournament kicks off from October 23. For the unversed, India played their last T20I -- comprising full-strength side -- versus England in early 2021. Hence, both sides are fully aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses. What will be interesting to see is how the two teams go ahead, in terms of the team combinations, in the warm-up face-off. For Kohli-led India, they have plenty of questions to answer. In their last game versus England, during the five-match T20Is in India in February-March, KL Rahul didn't open in the series-decider as Kohli-Rohit Sharma came out as openers. Back then, Rahul was in torrid form. Will Kohli continue as an opener despite Rahul's brilliant form in IPL 14's second and final leg in the UAE? Moreover, it will be interesting to see how many spinners get included in the India XI. At present, they have options in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy. Given the recent form, Varun and Jadeja seem like a certain in the XI. However, Varun's fitness was an issue in the last few games in IPL 2021. Hence, the focus will be on him. ALSO READ | I would be working at a petrol pump if not for money in cricket: Hardik Pandya India also have a veteran and experienced campaigner in Ashwin. However, he was off-colours in the second and final IPL 14 leg. Hence, he might not make it to the first XI so easily. The biggest factor among all will be Hardik Pandya's bowling. Will the all-rounder finally contribute with some overs? He didn't bowl a single over in IPL 14's final leg in the UAE. On the other hand, Shardul Thakur -- one of the most-successful bowlers for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2021 -- is very likely to be in India's XI for their first warm-up fixture. The team management will also closely monitor Bhuvneshwar Kumar's form, who wasn't at his best for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the just-concluded IPL season. Lastly, Ishan Kishan returned back to form in the last few games for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 14. Will he get a look-in as well? India's playing XI for England warm-up tie: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy If Hardik doesn't plan to bowl, India will have to make way for another pacer; which might also prompt them to drop the 27-year-old. ALSO READ | 'The stakes are always high': Ajit Agarkar on India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash Squads India: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Varun Chakravarthy, Rahul Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya. England: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jason Roy, Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Jos Buttler (wk), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

ICC World T20: Shardul, Chakravarthy to get a look-in? India's predicted playing XI for warm-up game vs England

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have no doubts about retaining captain MS Dhoni if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) allows retentions for all eight teams ahead of the mega player auction. All eight teams are set for a major revamp of their respective squads as BCCI is set to conduct a mega auction ahead of IPL 2022.

Two new teams will be added to the league's roster from the 2022 season and the board will look to give a fair chance to all teams to make their squads from scratch once again. Dhoni 'will be the first name' on the retention list if the franchises are allowed to retain players ahead of the mega auction.

As per a CSK source, Dhoni's future with the Yellow Army will depend on the retentions rules framed by BCCI ahead of the new season. The source stated that Dhoni will be the first man to be retained by the team.

"MS will be the first man to be retained, there is no doubt about it. But first of all we need to know the retention rules, which we are not aware of as of now. If we can retain (players), Dhoni will be first to save," a CSK source told Sports Tak.

Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings to a magnificent triumph in IPL 2021 as the Men in Yellow went on to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs in the final on Friday (October 15) to lift their fourth title. Dhoni was instrumental in his side's success as a captain and proved why he is regarded as one of the greatest leaders of all time.

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Of the Fans, By the Fans, For the Fans <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EverywhereWeGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EverywhereWeGo</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/THA7A?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#THA7A</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SuperCham21ons?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SuperCham21ons</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvKKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvKKR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yellove?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Yellove</a><a href="https://t.co/6OXgZUeOjA">pic.twitter.com/6OXgZUeOjA</a>
— Chennai Super Kings - Mask Pdu Whistle Pdu! (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/1449125842244702208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Dhoni has been leading CSK since the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008 and has captained the side in all 12 seasons that they have been part of the tournament. He has led CSK to four titles and a staggering nine finals. He remains one of the most successful captains in IPL history.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sunil-gavaskar-pays-tribute-to-ms-dhoni-havent-been-fortunate-enough-to-be-in-same-change-room-as-him-421209">Sunil Gavaskar pays tribute to MS Dhoni: Haven't been fortunate enough to be in same change room as him</a>

However, Dhoni is now in the final lap of what has been a glorious career and clearly struggled with the bat during IPL 2021. He has already retired from international cricket and there remain doubts over his future in the IPL. Nonetheless, CSK are reportedly certain of retaining their icon and captain if the rules allow.

"Which team or franchise would not want to retain a man like Dhoni. Two new teams will be added, so it would be great to see the competition. There are many things which we will have to see but as of now, I can only say that we will go for Dhoni. The rest we will see and go by rules set by the BCCI," said the source. 
&nbsp;

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have no doubts about retaining captain MS Dhoni if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) allows retentions for all eight teams ahead of the mega player auction.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have no doubts about retaining captain MS Dhoni if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) allows retentions for all eight teams ahead of the mega player auction. All eight teams are set for a major revamp of their respective squads as BCCI is set to conduct a mega auction ahead of IPL 2022. Two new teams will be added to the league's roster from the 2022 season and the board will look to give a fair chance to all teams to make their squads from scratch once again. Dhoni 'will be the first name' on the retention list if the franchises are allowed to retain players ahead of the mega auction. As per a CSK source, Dhoni's future with the Yellow Army will depend on the retentions rules framed by BCCI ahead of the new season. The source stated that Dhoni will be the first man to be retained by the team. "MS will be the first man to be retained, there is no doubt about it. But first of all we need to know the retention rules, which we are not aware of as of now. If we can retain (players), Dhoni will be first to save," a CSK source told Sports Tak. Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings to a magnificent triumph in IPL 2021 as the Men in Yellow went on to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs in the final on Friday (October 15) to lift their fourth title. Dhoni was instrumental in his side's success as a captain and proved why he is regarded as one of the greatest leaders of all time. Of the Fans, By the Fans, For the Fans #EverywhereWeGo#THA7A #SuperCham21ons#CSKvKKR #WhistlePodu #Yellovepic.twitter.com/6OXgZUeOjA — Chennai Super Kings - Mask Pdu Whistle Pdu! (@ChennaiIPL) October 15, 2021 × Dhoni has been leading CSK since the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008 and has captained the side in all 12 seasons that they have been part of the tournament. He has led CSK to four titles and a staggering nine finals. He remains one of the most successful captains in IPL history. Also Read: Sunil Gavaskar pays tribute to MS Dhoni: Haven't been fortunate enough to be in same change room as him However, Dhoni is now in the final lap of what has been a glorious career and clearly struggled with the bat during IPL 2021. He has already retired from international cricket and there remain doubts over his future in the IPL. Nonetheless, CSK are reportedly certain of retaining their icon and captain if the rules allow. "Which team or franchise would not want to retain a man like Dhoni. Two new teams will be added, so it would be great to see the competition. There are many things which we will have to see but as of now, I can only say that we will go for Dhoni. The rest we will see and go by rules set by the BCCI," said the source.

MS Dhoni to be the 1st player to be kept by CSK if retentions are allowed ahead of IPL mega auction - Report

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has joined Team India's camp as the Virat Kohli &amp; Co. begin their preparations for their ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign, BCCI on Sunday (October 17) released pictures of Dhoni with some Indian players. The tournament is underway in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.&nbsp;

Former Team India skipper Dhoni was appointed as the team's mentor last month and has joined the Indian camp after leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth Indian Premier League title.&nbsp;

The BCCI's official Twitter account shared images of Dhoni interacting with Team India, with the comment: "Extending a very warm welcome to the KING. @msdhoni is back with #TeamIndia and in a new role."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-to-be-the-1st-player-to-be-kept-by-csk-if-retentions-are-allowed-ahead-of-ipl-mega-auction-report-421442">MS Dhoni to be the 1st player to be kept by CSK if retentions are allowed ahead of IPL mega auction&nbsp;</a>

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Extending a very warm welcome to the KING 👑<a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> is back with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> and in a new role!💪 <a href="https://t.co/Ew5PylMdRy">pic.twitter.com/Ew5PylMdRy</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1449766996879548428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Virat Kohli, India's captain, stated on Saturday (October 16) that having MS Dhoni as&nbsp;a mentor for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will benefit his team.

"Massive experience. He is quite excited about getting back in this environment. He has always been a mentor for all of us, when we were starting our careers at the time he played and now he has the same opportunity to continue the same again."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-having-ms-dhoni-as-mentor-will-benefit-team-says-indian-skipper-virat-kohli-421357">T20 World Cup: 'Having MS Dhoni as mentor will benefit team,' says Indian skipper Virat Kohli</a>

"Especially for the younger guys who are in early stages of their career, just experience that he has gained over the years and having conversations with him about the game,"&nbsp;said Kohli during a Captain's Call organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) ahead of the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup.

"Such practical inputs and such intricate details of where the game is going and where we can improve. He makes a difference when he is in a leadership role in any team, absolutely delighted to have him in this environment. He will certainly boost the morale of the team further," he added.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has joined Team India's camp as the Virat Kohli & Co. begin their preparations for their ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign, BCCI on Sunday (October 17) released pictures of Dhoni with some Indian players.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has joined Team India's camp as the Virat Kohli & Co. begin their preparations for their ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign, BCCI on Sunday (October 17) released pictures of Dhoni with some Indian players. The tournament is underway in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Former Team India skipper Dhoni was appointed as the team's mentor last month and has joined the Indian camp after leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth Indian Premier League title. The BCCI's official Twitter account shared images of Dhoni interacting with Team India, with the comment: "Extending a very warm welcome to the KING. @msdhoni is back with #TeamIndia and in a new role." Also Read: MS Dhoni to be the 1st player to be kept by CSK if retentions are allowed ahead of IPL mega auction Extending a very warm welcome to the KING 👑@msdhoni is back with #TeamIndia and in a new role!💪 pic.twitter.com/Ew5PylMdRy — BCCI (@BCCI) October 17, 2021 × Virat Kohli, India's captain, stated on Saturday (October 16) that having MS Dhoni as a mentor for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will benefit his team. "Massive experience. He is quite excited about getting back in this environment. He has always been a mentor for all of us, when we were starting our careers at the time he played and now he has the same opportunity to continue the same again." ALSO READ: T20 World Cup: 'Having MS Dhoni as mentor will benefit team,' says Indian skipper Virat Kohli "Especially for the younger guys who are in early stages of their career, just experience that he has gained over the years and having conversations with him about the game," said Kohli during a Captain's Call organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) ahead of the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup. "Such practical inputs and such intricate details of where the game is going and where we can improve. He makes a difference when he is in a leadership role in any team, absolutely delighted to have him in this environment. He will certainly boost the morale of the team further," he added.

T20 WC: MS Dhoni joins Team India camp as Virat Kohli & Co. begin preparations - see pics

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