"India should be looking ahead", Gavaskar asks Dhoni to go without being pushed out 

Speculations have been rife over MS Dhoni's retirement since the World Cup in UK.

MS Dhoni | Getty

Sunil Gavaskar reckons time has come for MS Dhoni to clear the air surrounding him these days and finally call it a day in international cricket. The batting legend feels the former India skipper would be better off retiring on his own terms rather than being pushed out of consideration by the selectors. 

"Nobody knows know what is in MSD's mind. Only he can clarify what he thinks his future with Indian cricket is. But I think with him being 38 now, India should be looking ahead. Because by the time the next T20 World Cup comes around he will be 39 years old," Gavaskar told India Today on Dhoni, who hasn't played since the end of the World Cup in UK. 

"His value to the side is always going to be fantastic. Not just the runs he will score or the stumpings he will effect. But his overall presence on the field will be calming for the captain because the captain gets the benefit of his views. So that is a huge plus. But I do believe the time has come," he added. 

"Everybody has a shelf life and I do believe with the greatest of respect to Dhoni and I am a fan as millions of others; I just believe he should be going without being pushed out. He should be going on his own terms."

Read Also: Impatient fans demand return of MS Dhoni in place of Rishabh Pant

While the chief selector MSK Prasad confirmed its time to try out a few youngsters in the wicketkeeper-batsman slot - also since Dhoni remains unavailable for selection in the limited overs formats - the team management, especially skipper Virat Kohli, recently talked up the still "very valuable" man to the scheme of things in Indian cricket. 

However, Gavaskar thinks there should be long-term planning in place and someone like a Rishabh Pant must be given all the confidence at this stage. "Pant is a very good prospect. Look, the second year is always tough whether it is batsman or bowler and that's what he is finding out."

"People have a better idea about your strengths and weaknesses and therefore the bowlers will bowl accordingly. So I think he is facing second season blues. He has to keep his chin up."

"It was a bad sight to see his dismissal in Mohali(the second T20I versus  South Africa on Sunday) It wasn't a bad shot. It's just that he hit it straight to the fielder. And that's what can happen when you are going through a bad patch."

"So my suggestion is don't be too hard on him. Just be patient with him. Having said that having him a slot down the order at no.5 will do him a world of good," Gavaskar signed off. 

(Inputs from India Today)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 20 Sep, 2019

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