The reports have come through that MS Dhoni was not given the players that he had demanded for the forthcoming World Cup by the Indian selectors.
The selectors decided to go with players of their choice. Normally, it doesn’t happen with Dhoni. He is believed to be a very powerful personality in Indian Cricket and whichever kind of team he has wanted in the past, he has got that.
He was the one who, for raising the fielding standards of the team, had urged the selectors to bring in as many young players as possible in the limited over formats of the game and he was obliged.
The seniors were dropped immediately and were replaced by fresh legs.
But, the tide has started to turn against Dhoni now. With N Srinivasan not in charge of things any more, the 33-year old veteran seems to have lost his grip a little bit in the board.
According to the reports, Dhoni was not in favour of an all rounder being included in the 15-member squad.
He was of the opinion that if a genuine all rounder was not there, then, the team would be a better off with a specialist batsman.
Dhoni even made a couple of recommendations to the board out of which one name was of Murali Vijay.
Vijay’s overseas performances of late have been fine and that’s why, Dhoni wanted him there in the squad, but, the selectors did not listen and they picked Stuart Binny instead.
Dhoni has never trusted Binny that much as a bowler. Even on a few occasions when he has played him, he hasn’t given the Karnataka player that many opportunities to bowl.
Binny would certainly not be a first choice pick for any captain, but, he can swing the ball if the conditions favour him. He might happen to be useful in New Zealand where one of the semi finals is going to be played.