MS Dhoni deserves a farewell game for his incredible contributions to cricket, according to former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan. MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, bringing the curtains down on his 16-year-old career.
MS Dhoni-led India in limited-overs format from 2007 to 2016 and Tests from 2008 to 2014 and under his captaincy India won 2007 T20I World Cup and 2011 World Cup. He is the only captain in the world to win all three ICC trophies after winning 2013 Champions Trophy.
Irfan Pathan. Image Credit: Getty Images.
Irfan Pathan on a farewell game for MS Dhoni:
Irfan Pathan further added that there were many other former cricketers in the ranks of Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, who did not get a proper farewell. Thus he believes that there could be a match between the retired Indian XI and the current Indian XI with MS Dhoni as the skipper of the former.
“MS Dhoni deserves a farewell match. He has done so much for the country and for himself. He has been an icon for youngsters to take up cricket no matter where you are. Talking about records, he has been one of the most successful Indian captains so why not, he deserves that absolutely,” Irfan Pathan told Star Sports Cricket Connected.
MS Dhoni. Image Credit: Getty Images.
“I would even go on to take one step further. Why not involve all the cricketers who have been involved in Indian cricket? They have achieved something, maybe it is a World Cup or whatever it is, give them farewell. Maybe make an eleven with Dhoni as the captain and make them play against the current Indian cricket team,” he further added.
Former left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan debuted in Test in 2003 and continued to play in all formats till 2012 representing India in 29 Test, 120 ODI and 24 T20I. He was part of inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup team that won under the leadership of MS Dhoni. He played his last IPL game in 2017.
MS Dhoni Should Have His Name On The Seat In Mumbai: Ajit Agarkar
MS Dhoni secured the 2011 World Cup win for India with a brilliant six over long-on as India lifted the World Cup for the 2nd time after a hiatus of 28 years.
The Mumbai Cricket Association recently put forward a proposal of naming the seat on which the ball landed after MS Dhoni, thus paying proper respect to him. Ajit Agarkar believes that this was an excellent suggestion as it would honour MS Dhoni who also led India to 2007 T20I World Cup win.
“I don’t think anyone would have a problem if the seat at Wankhede Stadium is named after MS Dhoni after that particular shot. It was a historic one as it took India 28 years to win the World Cup again,” Agarkar said.
Ajit Agarkar. Credits: Google
Although MS Dhoni has retired from international cricket, he will continue to lead the Chennai Super Kings in the 2020 edition of the IPL. He had led CSK from the inaugural season of 2008 and CSK have won on three occasions and are the second most successful team of IPL after Mumbai Indians who won IPL four times.
The mega tournament will be held in UAE due to covid-19 and will be played across three venues – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, from September 19.
