MS Dhoni is a pillar of Team India: Irfan Pathan

JAMMU: Having words of appreciation for the former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan on Monday termed him as a pillar of the Indian cricket team.

"Mahi (M S Dhoni) is a pillar in Indian cricket team and the way he mentors on and off field is laudable," Pathan told UNI in an interview here at GGM Science College Ground while taking camps of senior and under-23 cricketers.

Irfan will be representing Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association in the coming domestic cricket season as a player and will also assist in coaching the cricketers.

On his chances of induction in the Indian team in 2019 World Cup to be played at England and Wales, Irfan Pathan said, "This season I will play and enjoy the cricket and rest roads are always open if you are regularly playing the game."

However, on part of better captaincy in Indian cricket so far, Irfan replied, "there is no comparison of all the captains I have played with. Every era is different."

Irfan Pathan made his debut in 2003-2004 under the captainship of former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly.

"What Ganguly did as a captain, it was a different scene and is always commendable," said Pathan.

"But, what M S Dhoni did in result-wise either it was World Cup win or T20 World cup victory and other formats of cricket, was also praiseworthy," said the left arm medium pacer.

He however, said that present team under the captaincy of Virat Kohli is performing good and Virat as a captain always boosts the young team, adding, "It looks good when a captain cheers up and lifts the morale of the team. Virat himself is a class cricketer."

Pathan is here in Jammu and Kashmir for the past one-week.

Earlier he camped in Srinagar and now will be taking two-day camp in Jammu to select probables for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season and other domestic cricket tournaments.