NEW DELHI: Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has dismissed doubts about Mahendra Singh Dhoni's international future, saying that the team management cannot even think of removing the Ranchi stalwart considering his current form and fitness.

Dhoni was in top form in Sri Lanka, having scored 162 runs with a strike-rate of 82.23. The former India skipper, who played his 300th One-Day International (ODI) in Sri Lanka, also grabbed eye balls  for each an everyone with his quick reflexes behind the wicket, becoming the first wicket-keeper in ODI history to affect 100 stampings.

Shastri asserted that Dhoni has both fitness and current form on his side and that the team will need him in the next ODI World Cup in 2019.

Shastri compared Dhoni with the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev and said his achievements need to be respected.

"Where else will you find a legend like M.S. Dhoni? Dhoni is in the same league as Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar or Kapil Dev. We have to respect his achievements," Shastri told India TV on Wednesday.

Shastri, who took over as India coach in July this year after Anil Kumble resigned from the post citing differences with captain Kohli, lauded Dhoni's performance in Sri Lanka and said that there's still a lot to come from him.

The 55-year-old Shastri added that Dhoni remains the best wicket-keeper in India in ODIs.

The team head coach said: "I have a problem. The amount of cricket that we are playing, we need at least 20 to 25 players. It is very difficult for a single player to play all forms of cricket. Players need rest."

Shastri said, he has talked to BCCI officials seeking rest for the players after the series with Australia. "It is better that T20 is organized later, since there is hardly any time left between the Sri Lanka series and the South Africa tour."

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