Remember the last time India won a One-Day International series? No, the one against Zimbabwe earlier this summer does not count, or the one last year, too. No disrespect to their cricketers, but it has almost been two years since Mahendra Singh Dhoni held aloft a noteworthy winners’ trophy in the ODI format.

Roll back the pages, and you have to go all the way to October 2014 when they beat West Indies in Dharamsala. Due to an injury sustained by Dhoni, it was Virat Kohli who captained the team in their next ODI series in November against Sri Lanka, whom they whitewashed 5-0.

The final game of that series happened in Ranchi, Dhoni’s home-town. Coincidentally enough, on Wednesday, Dhoni will return to his hometown, hoping to end this nearly two-year drought against New Zealand.

In this time period, India did not make the final in the tri-series Down Under, finished semi-finalists in the 2015 World Cup (the only creditable result in this interim), lost 2-1 in Bangladesh, lost 3-2 at home to South Africa and then lost 4-1 in Australia again.

These three sentences sum up why the previous selection committee thought about ending Dhoni’s ODI captaincy. In a recent interview, former chief selector Sandeep Patil clearly outlined that they had held a discussion about this topic. Only, he did not specify the timeline properly.

Delaying the captaincy conundrum

It makes for some wonderment then, if Patil and his co-selectors had thought of this after the World Cup, as the process began to shape a team for the 2019 edition in England? Or, did they do it after the Bangladesh loss, or the one to South Africa and then to Australia? It is an important point.

If they did seriously consider removing Dhoni as ODI skipper during the last two years, why did it not happen? For, clearly, the results were against him.

We do not yet know what the new selection committee under MSK Prasad plans to do. Sure, they have a blueprint from their predecessors. But this panel has to contend with the 2017 Champions Trophy, the 2019 ODI World Cup, possibly a World Twenty20, and at some point the transition from Dhoni to Virat Kohli in limited-overs will also come up.

A series win against New Zealand, in Ranchi or in the fifth ODI, will delay that last all-important, and uncomfortable, decision a bit.

Dhoni still has a lot to offer

In Mohali, Dhoni showed why he is still a force to be reckoned with in limited-overs cricket. Never mind his admission that “rotating strike is getting tougher”, he did an immaculate job at No. 4. As the team management looks to nurture young talent for the finishing role, Dhoni will play at this position more regularly.

Sometimes he will send Manish Pandey up ahead, and bat at No. 5, and at other times, he will promote himself. He likes flexibility in the ODI batting line-up, and for the time being, these are his only options.

The bottom-line here is that Dhoni still has a lot to offer Indian cricket. Whether he bats at No. 4 or 5, he will still play a major role in the latter half of any ODI – providing a flourish when batting first or finishing off run-chases. And this will allow the youngsters – Pandey and Hardik Pandya – to grow in their respective roles. The former is a great bet for he has both technique and shots to succeed in international cricket. He just needs ample opportunities.

Building the bench-strength

The latter, well, he is a shoe-in for the dual ODI events in 2017 and 2019. Even a blind man can point out that Pandya is being primed for the all-rounder role in English conditions. Unless he messes up big time by meandering off path, letting fame and money get to his head like others before him, Pandya has the key No. 7 role cut out for him.

Simultaneously, retaining the same squad for these last two ODIs – still missing Suresh Raina – allows Kedar Jadhav to grow as well. The biggest plus this series has been his bowling, giving Dhoni the leeway of an extra option, something he likes when things get tight. With Raina missing, Jadhav has proven to be an able fit in the same role.

Going ahead, the two could exchange places, depending upon form, situations and conditions. If it is about building bench strength in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy and World Cup, Jadhav is a big, healthy tick in that respect.

In-line with these “ticks” then, India have the chance to set right their recent unimpressive ODI record with a make-shift opening combination and bowling attack. The only obstacle in front of them is the possibility of a resurgent New Zealand performance. It is not unlikely that the Black Caps can make one last push on this tour, both in the fourth and fifth matches of this bilateral series.

After all, this has been the recurrent theme of their tour. Make India uncomfortable, and then drop the ball. Barring Delhi, they have never gone for the kill. And after that self-destructed run-chase, India found a new way in Mohali, when Dhoni promoted himself up the order.

So, can the visitors keep their batting collapses and fielding mistakes at bay, making the hosts more uncomfortable than at any other time on this trip previously? Or, will Dhoni heave a huge sigh of relief in the comfortable confines of his home ground after finally winning an ODI series of some merit?

Ranchi should provide an answer.