T20 World Cup: Eyes on mentor MS Dhoni as Team India look to solve Hardik-Varun puzzle

MS Dhoni with skipper Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri have major decisions to make as they prepare team India for the coming T20 World Cup right after the IPL.

New Delhi: While Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan`s form in Mumbai Indians` match against SunRisers Hyderabad in the IPL on Friday would have given the Indian team management much joy ahead of the T20 World Cup, all-rounder Hardik Pandya`s inability to bowl and spinner Varun Chakaravarthy's fitness is still a major worry and looks like mentor MS Dhoni will once again be skipper Virat Kohli`s go-to man when it comes to deciding on the duo`s fate.

Speaking to ANI, sources in the know of developments said while Varun`s fitness isn`t a huge concern -- as he will only need to bowl four overs and can be used judiciously -- Hardik`s position becomes crucial to team composition and it will once again need Dhoni to sit down with Kohli, Rohit Sharma and head coach Ravi Shastri to take a call on the road ahead.

"See, Dhoni in his initial years as the skipper had to face the situation that Kohli might face when it comes to the fitness of Varun. You need to find options when the player in question is a match-winner and there is no doubt that Varun`s four overs can turn matches. Dhoni`s input will certainly be crucial in this situation and his past experience should help. But the bigger concern is Hardik as he is an altogether different player when he can bat and bowl. Imagine having two match-winning all-rounders in the form of Hardik and Ravindra Jadeja. But the same Hardik becomes slightly less effective if he can`t bowl and the team composition needs a rethink in that case," the source said.