Former pacer Ashish Nehra believes MS Dhoni has already played his last game for India, especially with the suspension of IPL 2020 further delaying the veteran wicketkeeper’s return to the field.

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It has been over nine months since Dhoni last played any form of competitive cricket. The World Cup 2019 semi-final against New Zealand at Old Trafford was his last appearance in Team India colours.

“Look, if MS wants to play and is fit, he is still my No. 1 choice for the wicketkeeper’s slot. Knowing MS, I don’t think he will play again for India, but you never know he can still spring another surprise.

“Yes, that he has not announced his retirement is a different issue. But that’s his way of dealing with the situation,” Nehra told The Telegraph on Saturday (April 25).

However, the ex-fast bowler refuses to believe that Dhoni has been dropped from the Indian team. As per Nehra, there’s nothing wrong with Dhoni’s performance while he also pointed out that India is finding it hard to unearth his replacement in white-ball cricket.

“It’s really sad to think or say that MS is dropped… Because he has the performance that’s required to be shown.

“Besides, at No. 5, you have K.L. Rahul playing, not Rishabh Pant or Sanju Samson. People were saying that Pant would put pressure on Dhoni. But while Dhoni is not there, we can’t even see Pant in the picture.

“Pant had been tipped as Dhoni’s alternative,” Nehra said.

MS Dhoni retired from Tests midway during a four-match series in Australia as early as December 2014. However, he stayed on as the captain of the limited-overs team before stepping down in 2017.

Dhoni was set to lead Chennai Super Kings (CSK) during 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 the IPL 2020 being postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19 outbreak, his cricket future has once again become a topic of debate.