The indefinite suspension of IPL 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic has delayed MS Dhoni's much-awaited return to the cricket field. The wicketkeeper batsman was all set to come out of his nine-month-long sabbatical since the last year's World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.
Ever since head coach Ravi Shastri publicly left the door open for Dhoni's India comeback, there have been speculations on the matter, with many believing that the 13th edition of IPL will be just the right platform for the 38-year-old to prove his form and fitness.
WATCH: Harsha Bhogle reveals his favourite Indian captain of all time
Former batsman-turned-commentator, Aakash Chopra, however, thinks that is nothing but a "misconception".
"It's a huge misconception that Dhoni's comeback to the Indian team was dependent on his performance in the IPL," IANS quoted Chopra as saying. "If that is how we will view Dhoni as a player and his career and what he has achieved as a player, then I think we are just knocking at the wrong door, because it's not right."
Chopra said if the team management, led by skipper Virat Kohli and coach Shastri, really want him back in the mix, nothing would stop Dhoni from representing India again.
"See, if the team wants him to play, all that will happen. But if the IPL doesn't take place this year, the T20 World Cup doesn't happen this year, (then), of course, he will be a year older; and with him out of the cricket for more than 18 months, you can assume that you might not see him play again for India."
Chopra also gave his opinion on the future of IPL 2020 as well as the T20 World Cup, both uncertain at this stage because of the viral outbreak.
"It's still a long shot because we don't know how the world is going to operate," he said. "This COVID-19 pandemic is a developing story. For a tournament like the IPL, you have to ensure players' safety. It's being contemplated to have the IPL behind closed doors and I think it's better to have the tournament with empty stands rather than not having the tournament at all."
"To be honest, the T20 World Cup looks very, very difficult because Australia has already put a travel ban till September. The T20 World Cup is slated to be played in October," Chopra added.
"So October-November might just turn out to be the window to open up suddenly because moving the entire world to one place and then playing the tournament is a lot tougher than playing, say the IPL, in one country where most of the players are Indians and only a handful of players have to fly in."
"From a commentator and a cricket lover's point of view, I would want the IPL to happen."
(Inputs from IANS)
