Speculations have been rife over MS Dhoni's India future since his last outing for the country, the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in July last year. But head coach Ravi Shastri did say that the door would still be kept open for the great wicketkeeper batsman, especially if he is to enjoy yet another terrific season of IPL with Chennai Super Kings this summer, keeping in mind the T20 World Cup.
"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."
However, amid the growing uncertainty over the future of IPL 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, chances of Dhoni's India comeback look "very bleak", reckons former India batsman and ex-chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth.
The league's 13th edition remains indefinitely postponed because of the deadly outbreak, with the probability of it happening in the near future diminishing by each day.
"I am not going to be diplomatic. I am talking about if I was the chairman of the selection committee, what would I do. If the IPL does not happen then his chances are very, very bleak," Srikkanth said on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected.
"Because straightaway, in my opinion, KL Rahul will be the wicketkeeper-batsman. Rishabh Pant, I still think he might be a bit of a doubt, but I believe that Rishabh Pant is highly talented."
"So, I wouldn’t mind taking him along with the squad, but definitely, if the IPL doesn’t happen, then Dhoni will have a difficult time getting back into the team for the T20 World Cup," he added.
"Let’s be very honest about it. He is absolutely fit, he is a legend, he is brilliant. I am a great fan of Dhoni myself. But the question is for the World Cup team. So you’ll have to put the Indian team first and then the individuals."
(Inputs from IANS)
