4 Indian cricketers who'll now have to live up to MS Dhoni's standards 

MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket yesterday and while the manner of the announcement did come as a shock, most fans knew that he would never play for India again.

The postponement of the T20 World Cup may have proved to be the final straw, with the former Indian captain walking away from the international stage on the occasion of the Indian Independence Day.

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4 players who'll have to live up to MS Dhoni's standards

MS Dhoni last played a game for India in the 2019 World Cup and in the one year that has followed, India have struggled on many fronts. Decisions by the captain have come under the scanner, while the lack of a finisher lower down the order has been woefully apparent. The Men in Blue have also missed the wicket-keeper's quick work behind the stumps.

Now that it is confirmed that MS Dhoni will never play for India again, we take a look at 4 cricketers who'll have a tough time living up to the 2011 World Cup-winning captain's legacy.

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#4 KL Rahul

KL Rahul has become India's first-choice wicket-keeper in ODIs

KL Rahul has donned the gloves recently in ODIs, although whether he is good enough with the gloves on to be a specialist wicket-keeper is yet to be ascertained. The Kings XI Punjab captain currently bats in the middle order, usually at No. 5 as a result of Shreyas Iyer's stronghold over the No. 4 spot.

And Rahul has often been entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the runs flowing in the middle overs before launching towards the end of the innings. With the Karnataka man taking up a variety of roles for the team, the comparisons with MS Dhoni are inevitable.

He will have to be safe behind the stumps, and he will have to be dynamic and consistent with the bat. KL Rahul might even have to close games for India in the absence of the greatest finisher of all tine.

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#3 Hardik Pandya

Pandya could become India's new finisher

In the absence of a finisher, Hardik Pandya seems best suited to the role. He has the ability to hit the big shots and is not afraid to take the game to the end, much like MS Dhoni.

Pandya himself has spoken about how MS Dhoni has trained him for the role, and he seems to be willing to take up the responsibility given that there is no place for him anywhere other than the lower middle order. The all-rounder is a smart cricketer who thrives on being in the middle of the action, and there is no reason why he can't attempt to emulate the Ranchi keeper.

However, Pandya still has a long way to go, and he knows it.

"I'll never be able to fill MS' shoes, so I don't even think that way. I'm quite excited for the challenge to be honest. Whatever I do, it will be always for the team you know. It will be one step at the ladder and slowly-slowly that Cup will be there!" Pandya said, when asked if he'll take up the finisher's role in the absence of MS Dhoni.

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#2 Rishabh Pant

Pant and Dhoni are similar in many ways

Many parallels can be drawn between the early international careers of MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant. Both stocky wicket-keepers are destructive with the bat, and have faced their fair share of criticism for their unorthodox batting styles. Moreover, both players' wicket-keeping has been under the scanner as well.

MS Dhoni overcame his initial difficulties, both behind the stumps as well as in front of them, to become India's greatest-ever wicket-keeper-batsman. It remains to be seen if Pant can experience a similar upward curve, and his idol's official retirement will take some of the pressure off him.

Pant has shown what he's capable of in the Indian Premier League, and he could finally be ready to live up to MS Dhoni's standards.

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#1 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli needs to fill MS Dhoni's massive captaincy shoes

Perhaps the player who's come under the most criticism in the absence of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli's leadership has been a far cry from his predecessor's. Right from DRS calls to field placements, the current Indian captain doesn't seem to possess the tactical acumen that MS Dhoni does.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper just hasn't backed his players enough by giving them consistent runs of games, with team combinations and roles constantly changing. MS Dhoni's presence behind the stumps did appear to soothe some fears, but his absence will now be felt more than ever.

Virat Kohli has failed to lead India to an ICC tournament win yet, and he now has to step up if his team is to win any silverware.