4 Possible long-term replacements in the post MS Dhoni era in the limited overs format

MS Dhoni: Probably the biggest name in Indian Cricket in the last decade after Sachin Tendulkar, and it is inevitable that the legend will, in the end, hang up his boots. Although it will be a sad day in the history of Indian cricket, we will have to move on and a replacement has to be ready.

A similar situation arose when Dhoni announced his shocking decision to retire in the Test format in Australia. Saha was chosen as the replacement but it is true that if India would have groomed someone, we would have seen a totally different middle-order in test matches. The same can be expected in the limited overs format as well. The team management should be thinking ahead and shortlist a couple of talented players who have plenty of cricket ahead of them.

Throughout this IPL, many keeper-batsmen have impressed with both glove and bat. Although it is impossible to replace such a great captain, here are 4 possible replacements for Dhoni after his retirement in the limited overs.

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4. KL Rahul

KL Rahul has had an incredible IPL season and will feel unlucky as he was not selected in the Indian squad

The reason KL Rahul is at 4 is that he has never donned the gloves in an international match. Sunil Gavaskar had once said on air, if Rahul improves his keeping and works hard on it for a couple of years, he might solve the problem of India’s keeper in test matches as Saha is not the best batsman in the Indian side.

Although KL Rahul was behind the wickets for his respective side in the IPL for 2 years, keeping in the IPL and keeping in international matches is totally different. In T20I’s, Rahul is capable of wicket-keeping. I won’t be surprised if Rahul is told by the management or the coach to work and train on keeping in case Dhoni changes his mind.

It is likely that Dhoni is going to be available until possibly the 2020 T20 World Cup, so Rahul will have enough time to prove that he is worthy to fill the boots of one of India’s best wicket-keeper.

3. Sanju Samson

Samson has had enough opportunities to prove his worth but has not lived up to his talent

Samson has had a great IPL season as well as a domestic season this year. 441 runs in 15 innings at an average of 32 and 627 runs in 12 innings at an average of 52.25 are his stats in IPL and Ranji Trophy cricket this season.

Although like Rahul, Samson is not a regular keeper he has kept for Kerala a couple of times this season. An extremely talented stroke-player, Samson would have to work on a couple of aspects like his fitness as he failed the recently concluded Yo-Yo test seeing to which he was removed from the India A squad.

Seeing he is only still 23, Samson would hope to make the Indian squad someday. A player highly spoken of by Rahul Dravid, Samson would be a perfect replacement for Dhoni in the middle order or in the top order for India in the limited overs format.

2. Ishan Kishan

Kishan still has plenty of cricket ahead of him

Kishan is a talented left-handed keeper-batsman who came in the spotlight while captaining India in the U-19 World Cup in 2016 aged only 17. The year after, Kishan was Jharkhand's leading run scorer in the Ranji Trophy which included a record 273 against Delhi.

He played in the IPL for 2 years with Gujarat Lions, but his breakthrough season came in 2018 when Mumbai picked him up for 6.2 crores. He showed plenty of discipline and focus while batting which was lacking in the previous year’s.

Hailing from Jharkhand, Kishan still has plenty of cricket to go, but the management should identify him as a candidate for the post-Dhoni era.

1.Rishabh Pant

Pant is the perfect replacement for the great MS Dhoni

Life has been an incredible journey for Rishabh Pant in a short time span of only 2 years. Pant first stepped on the scene in the 2016 U-19 World Cup when he scored a record 24-ball 75 against Nepal.

He followed that with a century in the next match. The same year he was drafted in the IPL where he had a decent season with DD. He also gained a permanent place in the domestic setup with Delhi and was named their captain in the ODI format.

Known to be a very explosive opening batsman, he never did get to bat in his favoured position, but still scored plenty of runs. This IPL season was a breakthrough one as Pant was the 2nd highest run-getter and the highest Indian run-getter this year with 684 runs at an average 52.62.

Although he has played for India in the shortest format, he failed to leave an impression on the selectors and was hence axed from the T20I squad. If he continues to bat like this there is no doubt that he will replace MS Dhoni with utmost ease.