5 challenges for Rohit Sharma as India's ODI captain

#3 The MS Dhoni conundrum

MS Dhoni has blown hot and cold in ODIs

MS Dhoni’s mindset as a batsman has changed: he isn’t comfortable coming in and immediately slogging the ball away, but takes his time to settle in before changing gears. In such a scenario, it is imperative that India’s best bet in the middle-order gets enough deliveries to see off the initial rust.

However, the former India captain has been shunted up and down the order to somehow get the team composition right, resulting in him being under pressure towards the fag end of the innings. The indifferent form of youngsters around him has made matters worse.

For Rohit, who found a new lease of life as an opener under Dhoni four years back, the time has come to figure out which is the best slot for the 36-year-old in the ODI set-up. With Kohli absent, a move up the order, with more deliveries to play, could be some food for thought.