"Player should return to national set-up 3-4 years after retirement, but Dhoni a special case," says Kapil Dev

MS Dhoni has been added to India's T20 World Cup set-up as a mentor.

MS Dhoni | GETTY

Former India captain Kapil Dev has welcomed the move by BCCI to appoint MS Dhoni as the mentor of the Indian cricket team for the upcoming T20 World Cup. BCCI announced the 15-man squad for the World Cup next month, along with Dhoni as a mentor of the team on Wednesday (September 8).

Kapil, speaking at an event, said he believes a player should return to the national setup after 3-4 years of retirement, but Dhoni is an exception and he feels it's a good decision. He also pointed out that the team would need Dhoni especially after Shastri is down due to COVID-19. 

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"It is a good decision. I have always been of the opinion that once a cricketer retires he should come back to the setup only after three-four years but this seems like a special case with the World Cup around the corner. Ravi (Shastri) is also down with COVID so it looks a special case," Kapil said.

Dhoni will join the team in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after the second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021). He will be leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL, which starts on September 19.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah had said that Dhoni accepted their proposal for the new role and he is glad that the former India captain agreed to join the Team India set-up as a mentor. 

(With PTI Inputs)

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 11 Sep, 2021

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