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'The selectors need to find an answer to whether they see Dhoni leading India in 2019.'
'Three-four years down the line, do they see MS Dhoni as captain of India?'
Sourav Ganguly says he will be surprised if current limited-overs' skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni leads India in the 2019 World Cup.
The former India captain wants the national selectors to take a call on captaincy so that the country can plan for the future.
"Dhoni has been captain for nine years, which is a long period. He has been fantastic in the way he has gone about his job as captain, but does he have the ability in next four years to see India into the World in 2019. Does he have it in him to go for another four years?
"He has already given up Test cricket and now plays only ODIs and T20s. So the selectors need to find an answer to whether they see Dhoni leading India in 2019.
"If the answer is no, then find a new captain. If the answer is yes -- which I will find very, very surprising -- Dhoni continues," he was quoted as saying by India Today.
"Every cricket team in the world plans their future. But my question to the selectors is: three-four years down the line, do they see MS Dhoni as captain of India?" Ganguly asked.
However, he backed Dhoni to continue playing international cricket, saying India still "need him".
"I am not saying he needs to quit cricket; I feel he should continue to play in the shorter formats of the game. India still need him in the limited-overs cricket."
Ganguly also lauded Virat Kohli for his achievements as Test captain and on-field exploits in every format of the game.
"Virat Kohli is getting better every time. He is probably the best in the world in terms of consistency. His mental energy, tenacity is unreal. His attitude on the field is superb. His record as Test captain has been good," he said.
"Decision on appointing Kohli as captain should go in terms of where MS goes from here? There's no disregard to him (Dhoni); he's been one of the greatest captains of the country."
Kohli averages 52.70 as Test captain and has slammed four centuries in his 10-match stint so far.
In ODIs, Kohli has led India in 17 matches and his batting average is 70.83, including four hundreds.
Overall, he averages 51.51 in the 50-over format.