Dhoni's intent-less batting has often come under the scanner despite India’s stellar showing in the ongoing World Cup.
India’s legendary wicketkeeper batsman MS Dhoni is likely to call time on his international career after India’s last match in the ongoing World Cup, claims a PTI report.
Having qualified for the semi-final, India will face Sri Lanka in their last league match at Headingley on July 6. If the Men in Blue made it to the final and go on to lift the coveted trophy at Lord’s on July 14, it would be a fitting farewell to one of the legends of Indian cricket.
“You never know with MS Dhoni. But it is unlikely that he will continue to play for India after this World Cup. But since his decisions to quit captaincy from the three formats have been taken so suddenly, it is very difficult to predict at the moment,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity.
The MSK Prasad-led selection committee, which is likely to stay till the October AGM, will start the changeover process after the quadrennial event keeping in mind the next year’s T20 World Cup in mind.
When the new selection committee takes over from the current one, the possible replacements are expected to be identified with reasonable time left for the T20 World Cup.
However, with India qualifying for the World Cup 2019 semi-final, neither the team management nor the BCCI wants to highlight sensitive issues.
In the showpiece tournament thus far, Dhoni has amassed 223 runs from seven games at a good strike rate of 93. However, his circumspect approach has often come under the scanner despite India’s stellar showing.
Nonetheless, Dhoni’s contribution with the wicketkeeping gloves and his inputs to bowlers and captain Virat Kohli can’t be undermined.
“The team management had to take a call in 2017 after the Champions Trophy. They decided that they will invest another two years in Dhoni till the 2019 World Cup. India have reached the semi-finals despite his lukewarm performances so he has been carefully shielded,” a former India player told PTI.
“No one can ask him to retire but obviously he has got the drift that post World Cup, things won’t be the same,” he further said.