Kohli brushes off Dhoni question

Virat Kohli says MS Dhoni will continue to play a key role in India's limited-overs team despite the wicketkeeper-batsman being omitted for Twenty20 matches against Australia and the West Indies.

India's chief selector MSK Prasad said Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik had been drafted in for six T20s this month as the side look to identify a back-up keeper to former skipper Dhoni.

While the decision to omit Dhoni raised questions about the long-serving gloveman's future in the shortest format of the game, Prasad said the 37-year-old was merely being rested.

Kohli, speaking after beating the Windies 3-1 in their five-match one-day international series, gave short shrift to questions on Dhoni's future.

"I think the selector has already addressed this, if I'm not wrong," he said.

"And he's been spoken to firstly ... So, I don't see any reason why I should be sitting here and explaining that. I think the selector has come out and explained exactly what happened.

"I think people are putting too much variables into this situation, which is not the case. I can assure you of that.”

By sitting out the T20s, Dhoni was giving an opportunity to younger players to get much-needed experience, Kohli said.

Dhoni announced his sudden Test retirement partway through the 2014-15 Australia series, with the MCG Boxing Day match the last of his 90 appearances in the longer format.

He has continued in limited-overs cricket and is seemingly aiming to be around for next year's one-day World Cup in England and Wales, when he will be 38.

Dhoni was once considered India's best finisher and no target was deemed out of reach with the boundary-hitting right-hander at the crease. He has scored 1487 runs from 93 T20 internationals, at a strike rate of more than 127.

Pant, 21, has been making his mark with the bat and selectors might be planning for not only next year's World Cup but the World T20 the following year in Australia.

India Tour of Australia 2018-19

Gillette T20s v India

November 21: The Gabba

November 23: MCG

November 25: SCG

Domain Tests v India

December 6-10: Adelaide Oval

December 14-18: Perth Stadium

December 26-30: MCG

January 3-7: SCG

Gillette ODI Series v India

January 12: SCG (D/N)

January 15: Adelaide Oval (D/N)

January 18: MCG (D/N)