Following India’s exit from the World Cup after their shocking defeat to New Zealand in the semifinals, speculations have been rife that MS Dhoni would soon retire from the game. Though a section of people wants him to play the game while a few want him to retire from it. Meanwhile, the latest reports say that the selectors want to meet Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
The wicketkeeper-batsman announced his sudden and stunning retirement from Test cricket midway through an Australia series in 2014, with the Boxing Day match in Melbourne being the last of his 90 appearances in the longer format.
Dhoni’s batting down the order at the World Cup triggered heated debate, particularly his unbeaten 42 off 31 balls against England at Edgbaston, where he seemed to have abandoned the chase well before the end and only hit out in the last over when the match was already lost.
According to reliable sources, chief selector MSK Prasad will speak to Dhoni soon if he hasn’t had already spoken to Dhoni and convey to the legend that his time to exit may have come. If the Indian former captain wants to continue, he needs to perform, as selectors feel that he is not an automatic choice anymore.
“We’re surprised that he’s not done it so far. There are youngsters like Rishabh Pant waiting to grab their chances. As we saw in the World Cup, Dhoni isn’t the same batsman anymore. Despite coming in at No. 6 or 7, he was struggling to force the pace, and it was hurting the team,” the source was quoted as saying by Times of India.
MS Dhoni must quit Gracefully:
There were murmurs going on that MS Dhoni would be eyeing to play T20I World Cup in 2020. However, the source quoted that he is not in the plans of the selectors, who already rested him in the T20I series against Windies and Australia.
“I don’t think he’s in the selectors’ plan for the 2020 T20 World Cup too. He must quit international cricket gracefully. He isn’t an automatic pick any more,” the source added.
India will be next touring to West Indies for three ODIs and as many T20Is before playing a couple of Test matches. It is learnt that MS Dhoni will not tour to West Indies for the clash.