As the IPL 2020 is doubtful amid the novel COVID-19 or coronavirus outbreak, the 38-year-old MS Dhoni’s return to the cricket is getting more delayed. The former Indian cricketer Madan Lal, one of the newly-appointed Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) members, feels that Dhoni will have to face tougher job to continue his international career if the IPL 2020 gets cancelled.
The former World Cup-winning Indian captain MS Dhoni last time played a cricket match on 10th July 2019 during the semi-final (against New Zealand) of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Since then, while he has continuously made himself unavailable for the selections in the game, he also hasn’t clarified about his future in the game. However, recently, Dhoni was finally eyeing to return to the game during the IPL 2020, where he was ready to continue his successful leadership role for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
The IPL 2020 was initially scheduled from 29th March to 24th May 2020. However, the coronavirus has forced to postpone the tournament and there is strong doubt on the future of this tournament.
Madan Lal believes that it will be tougher for Dhoni to return to the national team if the IPL 2020 gets cancelled. However, he also clarified that he had no idea about the thought of the team management, Head Coach, captain and the selectors on Dhoni’s international cricket future.
Lal told ANI, “See, there are problems for MS Dhoni. He has not played cricket post-World Cup. If the IPL does not happen, problems for MSD will further increase. I don’t know what the team management, Ravi Shastri, Virat Kohli or the selectors are thinking.”
The selector would want MS Dhoni to first play cricket and then they select him: Madan Lal
Lal feels that Dhoni should clarify to the selectors about his plan on the international career and then the selectors can take any steps.
The CAC member added, “The selector would want MS Dhoni to first play cricket and then they select him. Team management and selectors have a huge responsibility. I feel that problems have increased. MS has played a lot of cricket and he was one of the best captains. I think he should himself tell what he thinks to the selectors and then the selectors will be able to think.”
On the other hand, Madan Lal feels that it will be tough to organise the IPL 2020 in this crisis period unless the situation improves soon.