Shastri: Dhoni’s experience cannot be bought

India coach Ravi Shastri believes MS Dhoni will go down as the one the greatest players the world has ever seen in ODI cricket, saying the wicketkeeper’s experience cannot be bought.

The 36-year-old Dhoni, who retired from Tests in 2014 after 90 appearances, helped India to a 5-1 ODI series victory in South Africa as well as a 2-1 success in the T20 format.

Always knows as a big hitter who finishes off games, the gloveman has come in for criticism over the last while for his performances with  the bat.

However, on the recent tour Dhoni, who now has 318 ODI and 89 T20I caps, played some vital knocks with the willow to help the subcontinent side complete their best ever tour to South Africa.

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Shastri said in quotes on India Today: “He’ll (Dhoni) go down as one of the greatest one-day players the world has ever seen. And when you have that kind of experience, the level of fitness and what he’s maintained.

“When it comes to finishing a game or batting in the final overs, there have been very few better than him in the history of the game.

“When you have that cushion of someone like him coming at No. 5, 6 or even 7 it makes a big, big difference.

“And like I said, there is no substitute for experience. That cannot be bought or sold in the market.”

Dhoni is one of a number of senior India payers that will be rested for a T20 tri-series in Sri Lanka, also including Bangladesh, starting on Tuesday.