MS Dhoni's long break from cricket ever since India’s ouster from World Cup 2019 has become a topic of discussion for the fans and pundits lately.

WATCH: MS Dhoni shares clip from his Mussoorie trip; covers highlights of the vacation

Following the quadrennial event in July last year, the veteran wicketkeeper took a sabbatical from international cricket to train with the Territorial Army – 106 TA Battalion (Para) in Jammu and Kashmir for two weeks, which saw him miss the tour of the Caribbean.

Dhoni then skipped white-ball series at home against South Africa, Bangladesh, West Indies, Sri Lanka and he is not part of the upcoming ODI series against Australia as well.

Amid the hue and cry, former India opener Sunil Gavaskar on Saturday (January 11) questioned Dhoni's long sabbatical from the game.

Asked if Dhoni can make India's T20 World Cup squad, Gavaskar told PTI: "Fitness is something that I can't tell you anything at all. The question that needs to be asked is of MSD himself. He has not made himself available to play for India since 10 July (9th actually).

"That is the important question. Does anybody keep himself away from playing for India for that long? That is the question and therein lies the answer," he added.

Last month, India head coach Ravi Shastri had said that Dhoni will be back in contention if the World Cup-winning captain decides he is good enough to play for India after the IPL 2020.

"That guy is a legend. The last thing he will want is to impose himself on an Indian team, having known him. He is wanting to take a break but he is going to play the IPL. The amount of sport he has played... if he puts himself in contention... if he feels after the IPL that 'I am good enough to play for India', don't mess around with that," Shastri had told India Today.

(With PTI inputs)