Virender Sehwag Believes MS Dhoni Should Decide His Cricket Future
Jul 19, 2019 at 11:05 AM
Former Indian attacking opening batsman Virender Sehwag believes that MS Dhoni should decide his cricket future. Sehwag further added that the selectors’ duty is to inform Dhoni about his present condition in the team.
The speculation about MS Dhoni‘s international retirement is running ahead of the beginning of the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. After the conclusion of the 2019 CWC, the former Indian captain MS Dhoni hasn’t opened up his retirement plan yet. However, the latest reports suggest that Dhoni may not be an automatic choice anymore.
Talking on Dhoni’s retirement, Sehwag has recently given his opinion. He feels that Dhoni should take the ultimate decision of his retirement.
According to Times Now, Sehwag said, “It should be left to Dhoni to decide when to hang his boots. The duty of the selectors is to reach out to Dhoni and inform him that he is no more being seen as India’s wicket-keeper batsman going forward.”
During the recently concluded 2019 CWC, MS Dhoni played a crucial role in the middle-order batting. The wicketkeeper-batsman scored 273 runs in nine innings with an average of 45.50. The right-handed batsman hit two half-centuries in that tournament. Though some have criticised his slow batting, many have appreciated his efforts.
I wish the selectors had asked me as well about my plans – Virender Sehwag
Later, Virender Sehwag wished the same fate for himself in retirement-planning which he has hoped for MS Dhoni.
Sehwag added, “I wish the selectors had asked me as well about my plans so I would also have been able to inform them.”
The former Indian chief selector Sandeep Patil commented on Sehwag’s retirement planning
Sandeep Patil was the chief selector of the Indian national cricket team during Virender Sehwag’s last period of the international career. Patil claimed during this discussion that he was unaware of Sehwag’s wish.
Patil revealed that he and Rajinder Singh Hans took the responsibility of Sachin Tendulkar‘s future. He further added that Vikram Rathore was holding the responsibility of Sehwag’s future.
Patil claimed, “The responsibility to talk to Sachin (Tendulkar) about his future was given to me and Rajinder Singh Hans while the same responsibility was given to Vikram Rathore for Sehwag. We had asked him and he said he had spoken with Sehwag. But if Sehwag is saying that Vikram did not talk to him, I would like to take responsibility for the same.”
Virender Sehwag clarified the situation
Later, Virender Sehwag clarified that Vikram Rathore spoke to him after he faced the exclusion. He feels that the selectors should speak with the senior cricketers about their future before their exclusion.
Sehwag added, “Vikram Rathore spoke to me after I was dropped. It would have made sense if he spoke to me before that. There’s no point talking to a cricketer once he is dropped. If M.S.K. Prasad speaks to Dhoni after he is dropped, what would Dhoni say — that he would play first-class cricket and the selectors should pick him if he scores runs. The point is that the selectors should reach out to cricketers before they are dropped.”
Virender Sehwag took his retirement from the cricket in October 2015. The right-handed opening batsman played his last international match in March 2013.