![Pakistan great preferred over MS Dhoni [Source: PCB, AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1787585364097_MS_Dhoni.jpg?type=hq)
Pakistan great preferred over MS Dhoni [Source: PCB, AFP]
MS Dhoni is unarguably one of the greatest cricketers to have ever graced the game. Moreover, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter is also highly considered to be one of the greatest captains of all time, at least in white-ball cricket owing to his decorated record with Team India.
However, Dhoni’s Test credentials continue to remain disputed among many fans and cricket experts. For instance, despite being one of India’s most successful Test captains of all time, the iconic stumper failed to make into a hypothetical Asia playing XI as devised by former opening batter Wasim Jaffer.
Wasim Jaffer picks Imran Khan over MS Dhoni in his Asia XI
While speaking on his YouTube channel, former Indian opener and domestic veteran Wasim Jaffer claimed that he would pick ex-Pakistan skipper Imran Khan as the captain of his all-time Asia XI.
Defending his decision of not naming MS Dhoni as his hypothetical captain instead, the cricket expert stated that the legendary wicketkeeper-batter will not even make it to his team. Jaffer added that he would rather include Dhoni’s spiritual successor and India’s current wicketkeeper-batter, Rishabh Pant as his team’s stumper.
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Moreover, Wasim Jaffer named all-time great Sachin Tendulkar as the vice-captain of the team, even though the latter held a dismal track record as Indian skipper back in the late 1990s.
Jaffer said “Imran Khan would be the captain. My vice-captain would be Sachin. I don't think MS Dhoni will even make it to the team. For me, Rishabh Pant would get into the team. Sachin would be an ideal vice-captain.”
Why did Wasim Jaffer pick Imran Khan and Rishabh Pant over MS Dhoni?
Jaffer’s decision of naming Imran Khan as his skipper might be a case of nostalgia, considering the legendary Pakistan all-rounder led his side to just 14 Test wins in 48 matches as captain.
While Wasim Jaffer also did not specify exact reason behind picking Rishabh Pant over MS Dhoni as his preferred Asia XI wicketkeeper-batter, one can assume that Pant’s formidable track record in Tests played a huge role in influencing the former opener’s decision.
For instance, just earlier today, Pant scored a fighting 63 off 89 balls against Sri Lanka on Day 2 of India’s series-deciding second Test in Colombo. Moreover, the attacking batter achieved the same while battling wrist injury and shoulder pain, as confirmed by his teammate Dhruv Jurel after stumps.
During the process of his innings, Pant also surpassed MS Dhoni to become the most successful Asian batter in overseas Test match history.
A look at Dhoni’s record in Tests
Despite not making it into Wasim Jaffer’s hypothetical Asia XI, MS Dhoni holds a formidable record in Test cricket. By the time of his retirement, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter was India’s most successful Test captain before Virat Kohli broke his record a few years later.
Under his leadership, India secured a historic Test series win on New Zealand soil in 2009, and thrashed Australia by a record 4-0 margin in the 2013 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at home.
A run machine in India’s middle order, Dhoni aggregated 4,876 runs in 144 innings spanning 90 Tests at an average of 38.09 and with a strike rate of nearly 60. He silently bowed out of the format in late-2014 after spending over nine years with the Test team.
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