MS Dhoni didn’t returned back to the national team after 2019 World Cup semi-final loss to New Zealand. He was certain to retire after the marquee event but reports suggested that Indian captain Virat Kohli had requested him to hold back until Rishabh Pant gets ready for the duty.
The veteran of 350 ODIs made himself unavailable for the West Indies tour after he opted to join his army battalion and guard in the difficult and terrorist prone area of Awantipura in South Kashmir. He was expected to return for the South Africa T20 series but he again made himself unavailable for selection. Fans were expecting to see him return for the Bangladesh series but they again faced a setback after he opted out of selection. A report in Indian Express suggests that the veteran wicket keeper batsman is suffering from a back injury, which is the reason for his ouster from the national team.
Amid all the speculations, former Australia International and CSK member Shane Watson has said that it is up to Dhoni to take a call on his retirement and he is “still playing incredibly well”.
“He has still got the skill. But it is down to him to decide. He still moves incredibly well, runs hard between the wickets and has beautiful hands. Whatever he does, it will be the right thing because he knows what lies ahead,” Watson was quoted as saying by India Today.
When asked if India can dominate world cricket like Ricky Ponting’s or Steve Waugh’s Australian team, he said that it will be hard to replicate but Indian team has all the firepower to do so.“There is no doubt that India has got the depth in all facets… batting, bowling and fielding. The depth in Indian cricket is incredibly strong. It has got the luxury of having someone like a Rohit Sharma opening the batting and scoring lots of runs. The depth in Indian cricket is incredible… I am sure this team can win away from home as well,” he said.
