The wicketkeeper-batsman had an average World Cup, scoring a 50 in the semifinal loss, which is being considered his last outing in national colours.
Amid a flurry of speculation about Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s future, former Union Minister and BJP leader Sanjay Paswan claimed that the cricket legend will join BJP after retiring.
He told news agency IANS: “On this issue, there has been a discussion for long, although this decision will be taken only after his retirement. Dhoni is my friend, he is a player of world fame and there have been discussions on bringing him into the party fold.”
All eyes will be on Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is expected to lay out his future plans upon return amid speculation that he might retire from international cricket.
It is learnt that the 38-year-old will leave for his hometown Ranchi after arriving in Mumbai.
The wicketkeeper-batsman had an average World Cup, scoring a 50 in the semifinal loss, which is being considered his last outing in national colours.
The former captain, who led India to two world titles (the 2007 World T20 and the 2011 ODI World Cup), has been facing severe criticism for his waning finishing skills with the bat.
Read: Without Dhoni, there wasn't a chance, says Steve Waugh
1. Will Dhoni join BJP?
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Last year, Dhoni was one of the celebrities whom Amit Shah visited in his Sampark for Samarthan programme.
Dhoni’s home state Jhakhand is going to polls this year and there’s speculation that Dhoni could be BJP’s CM face. If Dhoni does join the BJP, he will again be in the same team as Gautam Gambhir, who recently joined the party and became an MP.
Picture: Sanjay Paswan
2. Lata Mangeshkar begs Dhoni not to retire
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In a series of tweets on Thursday, veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar urged cricket legend M S Dhoni not not to retire from the game.
"Namaskar M S Dhoni ji. Aaj kal main sun rahi hun ke Aap retire hona chahte hain. Kripaya aap aisa mat sochiye. Desh ko aap ke khel ki zaroorat hai aur ye meri bhi request hai ki Retirement ka vichar bhi aap mann mein mat laayiye @msdhoni (Nowadays, I'm hearing that you (Dhoni) are going to retire. Please don't take retirement, nation wants you. I also request you, not to take retirement and also do not think about retirement), Lata tweeted.
" Kal bhalehi hum jeet na paaye ho lekin hum haare nahi hain. Gulzar sahab ka cricket ke liye likha hua ye geet main hamari team ko dedicate karti hun(Yesterday, we did not win but we did not lose too. I dedicate Gulzar's written song (Akash ke us paar bhi) to my team.)," she added.
3. Kohli unsure of Dhoni's future
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Skipper Virat Kohli has, however, refrained from making any statement on the senior player's future.
"He hasn't told us anything," was Kohli's response to a query on Dhoni's future after the loss to New Zealand
