Unfinished Player : The Resurrection of MSD

India completed their Australian tour on a high with a 2-1 victory in the ODI's, the same margin as the tests and in the process, there's a definite answer to the question on who India should play at the all important no. 4 position in the upcoming world cup. For so long, MS Dhoni has been criticized for taking too many dot balls at the start and failing to make up for it later, leaving the team with a lot to do. His match finishing innings in the second and the third match should put all doubts to rest. In the second match, he played the role of a perfect sheet anchor who took his time and then attacked after Kohli's dismissal. His strike rate was above 100 which shows he made up for his slow start. In the series deciding 3rd match, he again played his role to perfection. Chasing a modest total of 230, he took a lot of balls to get in and made sure India get over the line in the last over. It is very evident that Dhoni now needs some time to settle before he can unleash his big shots, which is precisely the reason he should bat at no. 4. With him batting at no.4 , there'll be a sense of calmness in the team. Dhoni can hold one end till the final overs while the likes of Kedar Jadhav and Dinesh Karthik can hit the big shots around him. It also gives Dhoni enough time to settle and prepare him for the final onslaught.

Despite all his brilliance, Virat Kohli needs someone who can guide the spinners on what lengths to bowl or how to vary their pace. Most of the time he's fielding at long on and can't dictate the terms. This is where Dhoni with all his experience of captaincy, field placings and wicket-keeping is a real asset to the team. Moreover, his presence on the field has a calming effect on the players around him. He is still the fastest runner in between the wickets and has a lightning hands when it comes to wicket keeping. For India to win the world cup, Ms Dhoni holds a vital place and he must bat at no. 4 to provide the stability to the team and allow the finishers to do their job. Dhoni might be at the fag end of his career in 2019, but when the match situation is tense and you require 15 runs of an over, he's still your best bet to achieve the target. His ability to pierce the gaps and make the bowlers bowl as he wants him to stands apart. He has made India win numerous games with this instinct and I believe, bowling to Dhoni, the pressure on the bowler is more than on Dhoni. Let's hope he can replicate his form in the upcoming series against New Zealand and maintain his form and fitness till the world cup. A firing Dhoni will be the biggest tick in the checkbox and take the pressure of Virat and the openers.