Former captain Mohammed Azharuddin isn't too optimistic of MS Dhoni making an India comeback, especially with the suspension of IPL 2020 further delaying Dhoni's return to the field.
It has been over nine months since the wicketkeeper-batsman last played any form of competitive cricket, the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Old Trafford last July.
And Azharuddin says, such a long period away from the game can't be made up by just practising.
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"Dhoni can explain better than me about what he wants and it will be his personal decision. See as of now, the situation is not good and that is why IPL is not taking place and I feel it will take some time to get things sorted but for Dhoni, it is his personal decision," the 57-year-old told ANI.
"Definitely, the selectors will look at the performance because playing after a long gap is not that easy, match practice is really important and it does not matter how big a player you are, you have to play some matches. Practicing and playing matches are two different things," Azharuddin added.
Talks of Dhoni's retirement and his possible India comeback have been rife in equal measure ever since head coach Ravi Shastri said the door will be kept open for the man keeping in mind the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.
But with no IPL action because of COVID-19 pandemic, Dhoni has been robbed of an opportunity to prove his form and fitness, that is if he is desperate to wear the India jersey again.
Azharuddin, meanwhile, condemned the incidents reported in the media where people have assaulted doctors and police officers. He said such people shall be given "very hard punishments".
"See, those who are attacking doctors and police teams should be given hard punishment," said the president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). "When a doctor joins this profession, he/she takes an oath to save the lives of people. They are just doing their job and if someone is attacking them then they should be given very hard punishment then only people will understand."
"We have to follow rules and regulations. People should not gather anywhere. We have to take every precaution as there is no vaccine for it. So, we have to practice social distancing," Azharuddin added.
(Inputs from ANI)
