The postponement of IPL 2020 has put MS Dhoni's cricket future in jeopardy.
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Dhoni, who has been away from competitive cricket since India’s exit from the ICC World Cup last year, was set to lead Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 13th edition of IPL, in a bid to stake claim for a place in the national squad for T20 World Cup.
But now with IPL 2020 on the verge of being postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19 pandemic, his cricket future has once again become a major topic of discussion.
"If the IPL does not happen this year, then it will become very difficult for MS Dhoni to make a comeback. On what basis can he (Dhoni) be selected since he's not been playing for the last one or one and a half year," Gambhir said on Star Sports' show 'Cricket Connected'.
He picked KL Rahul, who has been keeping in ODIs, as an "apt replacement" for Dhoni.
"Obviously his (Rahul's) keeping is not as good as Dhoni's, but if you are looking at T20 cricket, Rahul's a utility player, can keep and bat at No 3 or 4. If the IPL does not happen, then Dhoni's chances for a comeback look dim.
"Ultimately, you are representing India, so whoever dishes out the best performance and can win the match for India should play for the team," the southpaw added.
Gambhir, however, refused to comment on Dhoni’s retirement, saying it is a personal decision of a cricketer.
"As far as his retirement plans go by, that's his personal choice," he remarked.
Earlier this year, India head coach Ravi Shastri had said the team management will wait and watch until IPL 2020 to take a call on Dhoni's comeback.
"It all depends on when he starts playing and how he is playing during the IPL," Shastri had told IANS. "What are the other people doing with the wicket-keeping gloves or what is the form of those players as opposed to Dhoni’s form. The IPL becomes a massive tournament because that could be the last tournament after which more or less your 15 is decided."
"There might be one player who might be there and thereabouts in case of an injury or whatever. But your team I would say would be known after the IPL. What I would say is rather than speculating of who is where, wait for the IPL to get over and then you are in a position to take a call on who are the best 17 in the country."
Dhoni did not feature in India's plans in the home season and the tour of New Zealand but the former India skipper began training in the lead up to IPL 2020. After taking to the nets at Ranchi, he landed in Chennai in the first week of March and trained extensively with a few of his CSK teammates, including Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu.