MS Dhoni has been given an important role in the Indian cricket team.
The speculation around MS Dhoni's future refuses to die down. The former Indian captain's place in the team has been under the scanner since the end of India's World Cup 2019 campaign.
Speculations were rife that the two-time World Cup-winning captain may announce his retirement from international cricket. It was also being said that Dhoni was about to be dropped from the team and it may well spell the end of his career in Indian colours. However, on the eve of the Indian team selection for next month's tour of the West Indies, Dhoni made himself "unavailable" while ruling out immediate retirement.
While some reports are suggesting that selectors have sent the message for Dhoni to hang his boots, another report is claiming that MS Dhoni has actually been requested not to retire at the moment. The IANS news agency has reported that Dhoni has been given a new role and asked to stay for now.
1. MS Dhoni asked not to retire
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The new agency IANS reported that the team management has requested MS Dhoni not to retire at the moment. The report quoting 'sources in the know of developments' said that while Rishabh Pant is being readied for the future, the team management wants Dhoni to remain with the team to avoid any sudden vacuum in the set-up.
“While the team management is grooming Pant with an eye on the next T20 World Cup and beyond, they want Dhoni as a mentor and back-up if he is needed going into the tournament. They want him to stick around a bit longer."
“Take a look around and tell me who are your options if Pant suffers an injury? To be honest, all the names on the other side don’t match-up to be half as good as Dhoni still is. Yes, there is no denying the fact that Pant is the future and he will be looked at across all formats, but Dhoni’s guidance, as well as presence, is still needed,” the source was quoted as saying in the report.
2. 'Dhoni knows his role'
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The report also said that MS Dhoni, as always, is not going to react to the controversy and speculations over his future.
“Dhoni knows what his role and position is. All these talks about his retirement and when he will call it quits makes no sense as he is a team player. He will never react to any controversy and I am sure you all know this much about the man and his ethics," the report quoted the soruce as saying.
3. What MSK Prasad had said
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Chief selector MSK Prasad had said that the team was looking at Pant across all formats and that it was on Dhoni to decide when he wishes to retire.
“Retirement is purely individual. A legendary cricketer like Dhoni... he knows when to retire. But as far as the future roadmap is considered, that is in the hands of the selectors. He (Dhoni) is unavailable for this series. Having said that, we had certain roadmaps till the World Cup. Subsequently, post the World Cup, we have laid down few more plans."
“We thought of giving as many opportunities to Rishabh Pant to see he is groomed. That’s our plan right now. Pant hasn’t done anything wrong for his non-inclusion in the playing XI. Pant will be playing all the three formats so we will have to look about his workload management,” he had said.
4. 'Dhoni sent message by selectors'
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Earlier, another report had suggested that MS Dhoni has already by given the message to make way before team announcement for West Indies. According to TOI, Dhoni and BCCI chief selector MSK Prasad had a serious discussion over the wicket-keeper batsman's future role.
During their chat, Dhoni was allegedly informed by Parasd that the 38-year-old “wasn’t in the scheme of things anymore, and the selectors now planned to go ahead with youngsters."
5. MSD to spend time with Army unit
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MS Dhoni had made himself "unavailable" for Team India's tour of West Indies. Dhoni, who is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment of the Territorial Army, will be spending most part of the next 2 months with his regiment.
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has approved MS Dhoni's request to train with a territorial army battalion of the parachute regiment for 2 months. According to an ANI report, part of the training is also expected to take place in the Kashmir valley but Dhoni would not be part of any operation.
