Virat Kohli needs MS Dhoni in pressure situations: Shane Warne

Team India still needs players like MS Dhoni to win the tough matches, according to legendary Australian bowler Shane Warne.

Warne praised India’s current captain Virat Kohli as ‘a terrific leader’, but also added that the team will need experienced players like Dhoni in a pressure situation. He added while it was easy to lead the side when things were going well, one needs the presence of experienced players to guide the team to victory during tough situations.

“Virat Kohli is a terrific leader but many a time we can have experience of MS Dhoni to help Virat when pressure is on. It’s easy to captain a side when things are going well but when it’s tough you need experience like you saw in MS Dhoni,” Warne said to ANI.

India failed to defend a huge total of 358 in recent Mohali ODI as Australia managed to level the series with a four-wicket win. MS Dhoni was not a part of the team for the match.

Warne also hit back at the critics of Dhoni, calling him a ‘great player’.

“MS Dhoni is a great player. He can bat anywhere whatever the team needs. He is adaptable and anyone criticising him has no idea what they are talking about. India need him in the World Cup. They need his experience and leadership skills on the field to help Virat Kohli as well,” he said.

Warne said that India will be one of the favourites in the 2019 World Cup. He said that though India and hosts England will head into the event as favourites, it will be Australia who have a chance of ultimately emerge out victorious.

“World Cup is very close. I think India and England will go in as favourites because of the cricket they played in the last six to 12 months…I believe Australia will win the World Cup as they are peeking up at right time but I think India and England are going in as the favourites,” Warne said.