'The best leader I have ever worked with,' former India coach Gary Kirsten slams MS Dhoni's critics

New Delhi: MS Dhoni's tenure as India's ODI captain has been under criticism ever since he decided to step down from Tests duty in 2014.

A string of below-par performances with the bat has even added fuel to an already burning debate of whether Dhoni should make way for Virat Kohli to lead the Indian side in all formats of the game and may be focus his attention only batting.

With the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in England touted as MS Dhoni's last big tournament by many, former India coach Gary Kirsten refuses to buy into the theory that the Indian limited overs captain is 'done and dusted'.

Kirsten, who led India to the 2011 World Cup triumph, branded Dhoni as the best leader he has ever worked with.

"Dhoni is definitely the best leader I have ever worked with. And his record for Indian cricket over the last nine-ten years speaks for itself," said the South African.

He further added, "There is no debating in my opinion that he is up there with India's greatest captains and certainly has produced the trophies for India in his time."

Gary also warned selectors against ditching Mahi for the 2019 World Cup as they might miss out on a match-winning performance, which he is still capable of producing in the biggest cricketing tournament in the world.

Earlier, former Indian cricketers Ashish Nehra, Ravi Shastri, Kiran More also backed MS Dhoni to continue playing for India till the next World Cup.

Dhoni has always done what he wanted to and made decisions that hardly anyone can question him for. Whether he leads India at the 2019 World Cup or not only time will tell but a glimpse of it will surely be visible in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, to be held in England in June.