As India look to dominate and strangle England in the fourth Test at Mumbai, a major aspect is bound to worry the hosts. For the three-match ODI series that follows the Tests, Indian skipper MS Dhoni could be in without much of match practice. Since Dhoni no longer plays Test matches, the only way of remaining match fit for ODIs is to play either in the IPL or the domestic List A tournaments for his state side Jharkhand.
However, the Vijay Hazare Trophy is bound to commence only in February and that signifies the fact Dhoni might not play a single competitive game in lead up to the ODI and T20I series against England at home, which begins in mid-January. Dhoni’s final outing in India colors was during the fifth ODI against New Zealand at Vizag, where the men in blue made a mockery out of the Kiwis.
MSK Prasad, the chairman of selectors was quizzed about Dhoni’s lack of match practice and he mentioned that the veteran wicket-keeper batsman was preparing with the Jharkhand Ranji Trophy side on the sidelines.
“We have no information as to whether Dhoni will be playing any Ranji Trophy game or not. In any case he has already retired from the longer format. The information we have is that he is doing his regular training with the Jharkhand team,” Prasad said.
Jharkhand State Cricket Association Secretary Rajesh Verma commented that Dhoni was more than a player for Jharkhand as he is currently “mentoring” the young side. “Dhoni does not play Test cricket anymore so the question of playing first-class cricket does not arise at all. He is a mentor of the Jharkhand team. He will play for Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy,” Verma said.
Having said that, against a top notch and aggressive ODI outfit like England, Dhoni will have to be at his supreme best if the Indians are to continue their run of dominance in ODIs.