Despite his recent batting struggles, MS Dhoni has decided not to turn up for Jharkhand in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. While seeing Dhoni in the domestic circuit has been rare since his international debut, many were expecting him to play for Jharkhand after retiring from Tests.
His poor form in recent times had also made many speculate that the former India skipper would try to get some much-needed match practise by playing for Jharkhand. He had featured in all the six games of Vijay Hazare Trophy last year but has decided to not turn up this year.
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“Dhoni has been training with the team since September and has been involved in all aspects of the game. He has been playing the role of mentor. It hardly matters if a player of his stature takes part in the Vijay Hazare Trophy,” Jharkhand Cricket Association secretary Debasish Chakraborty told Mirror.
But there are slight possibility of seeing Dhoni plying his trade for Jharkhand if the team makes it to the knock-out stage. Right now Jharkhand are on top of Group C and will play their last group game on October 11 against Services. Jharkhand are likely to make it to the next stage.
They will top the group if they win. They can still finish in the top two if they lose. Jharkhand will be ousted only if Services beat them in addition to winning their second match against Rajasthan, and Haryana beat Tamil Nadu.
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Playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will be beneficial for both the parties. While Jharkhand will definitely be bolstered by Dhoni’s presence, the latter would get some confidence before turning up for India again.
The 37-year old has been attracting severe criticism for his poor batting since the tour of England. He is likely to be seen in action again when India take on West Indies in the ODIs later this month.
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