For MS Dhoni, Team India is above everything else: Virat Kohli

India captain Virat Kohli has stressed that MS Dhoni is a selfless cricketer and having a man of his experience will be of great value to Team India at the 2019 World Cup, starting May 30 in England and Wales.

Virat Kohli, who will be leading India at a World Cup for the first time, said MS Dhoni's presence in the team gives him the freedom to go about doing "his thing".

MS Dhoni has been named as the first-choice wicketkeeper in India's 15-member squad for the World Cup. Dhoni, 38, will be featuring in his 5th World Cup and is still an indispensable member of the squad.

Dhoni had struggled for form in ODI cricket in 2018 but captain Virat Kohli and head coach of the Indian cricket team, Ravi Shastri have always backed the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman.

Dhoni has managed to begin the World Cup year on a high, having collected 327 runs from 9 matches at an average of 81.75. Dhoni was in fine form for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2019 as well as the three-time title-winning captain hit 416 runs from 15 matches.

"What can I say about him. My career started under him and few have seen him from so close over the last few years as I have. There's one thing about MS that's far more important than anything else - and there's a lot to him - for him, the team is always above everything else. It's always about the team, no matter what," Virat Kohli told The Times of India.

He added: "To top it, look at the experience he brings to the squad and we're richer with it. Some of his dismissals behind the stumps, just recently too (in IPL), were match-changing."

As Kohli pointed out, MS Dhoni has excelled with his unmatched wicketkeeping skills and the game awareness he brings to the team.

Apart from being a tidy wicketkeeper, Dhoni's ability to help captain Virat Kohli with tactical inputs is adding a lot of value to the team. Kohli has the freedom to field at the deep during the death overs while Dhoni takes control of proceedings from behind the stumps.

More importantly, Dhoni's ability to guide spinners has become a major talking point surrounding the veteran wicketkeeper's contribution to the team.

Lashing out at MS Dhoni's critics, Kohli added: "That's unfortunate. Honestly, I think people lack patience. An odd day here, a poor one there, and chatter becomes endless. But the fact is that MS Dhoni is among the smartest guys in the game. Behind the stumps, as I said, he's priceless. It gives me the freedom to do my thing. Someone like MS is around with a wealth of experience."

Meanwhile, both Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri acknowledged that Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni are part of the leadership group and the two successful IPL captains will play a key role in India's World Cup campaign.

"The way they've gone about with their respective roles - as captains (in IPL) - speaks volumes of what they bring to the table. MS in particular has a legacy. So, it augurs so well for this team to have both of them in a leadership role."

India are set to leave for the United Kingdom on May 22. The former champions will take on South Africa in their first World Cup 2019 match in Southampton on June 5.

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