3 reasons why MS Dhoni is missed in the Indian Test team

It was a big day for the Indian cricket fans when the legendary MS Dhoni announced retirement from the Test format. It was not just any ordinary retirement, but it marked an end to an important era as it created a big void.

A great Test captain, an extraordinary keeper, a finisher and a tactician, these were the qualities that a single player possessed. Since then, India has tried many wicket-keepers and had persisted with Wriddhiman Saha for a long time but have not found the ideal one.

India's struggle for wicketkeeper has been highlighted in the current Test series against England. After Saha's injury, Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant have not performed that well. Though Pant looked promising in the third Test, in the fourth match, he looked quite ordinary both with wicketkeeping and batting skills.

Almost four years after Dhoni called off from the Tests, the void is just getting bigger with each match. Let us find out the reasons why Dhoni is still missed in the Test team.

#3 Wicket-keeping skills

Dhoni's extraordinary wicketkeeping skills are missed especially in the overseas condition

When it comes to wicketkeeping skills, MS Dhoni stands at the top without any hesitation. He is the best wicket keeper that India has ever produced. In 90 Tests, he has effected in 294 dismissals and stands 5th in the most dismissals by any keeper.

Wriddhiman Saha had done a decent job with wicketkeeping but has struggled in his batting. In the current series, Karthik was great with his keeping but had a torrid time with the bat. Pant is relatively new and has struggled to keep in the swinging conditions.

India has not found an ideal replacement for Dhoni who could keep in any conditions and be equally affecting in keeping the wickets.

#2 Finisher's role

India has not found a reliable wicket-keeper batsman since Dhoni's Test retirement

After Adam Gilchrist's emergence as a wicketkeeper who scored tons of runs, it changed the perception of everyone about keeper batsman. Earlier, the team was content with the wicketkeeping skills only while the runs scored by them were treated as bonus runs.

In the modern cricket, keepers hold a key position in the batting line-up. Fortunately, India had the services of MS Dhoni who was not only a brilliant keeper but also equally a great batsman. In 90 Tests, he scored 4876 runs and is the third highest runs scored by any keeper.

India had lost many Tests chasing small totals, and one of the reasons is the lack of contribution from the lower middle-order. Imagine if Dhoni would have batted in these crucial situations the result would have ended in India's favour. India is currently missing the presence of a finisher who could win matches and score runs.

#1 Shrewd thinking

Dhoni's tactics have helped the Indian team in crucial situations

MS Dhoni has one of the sharpest minds and is a great tactician when it comes to making strategies. His shrewd thinking about the game was a big asset especially in critical moments of the game.

Dhoni has been the most successful Indian captain in Tests and has won a lot of matches with his astute thinking. He was the mastermind in India's famous Test win at Lords in the 2014 England tour where he employed short ball tactic to surprise the English team.

Kohli, on the other hand, has been good but has looked out of sorts when things are not going India's way. In the ODI format, Dhoni has been assisting Kohli on numerous occasions, which have helped him but in Tests, it is not the same case. India is missing Dhoni's brilliant tactics which have helped the team to pull out from troubled waters.