Two-time World Cup-winning India Former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni may ‘soon end his ODI career,’ India Team Head coach Ravi Shastri has shared that MS Dhoni may take Retirement soon.
I have discussed it with MS Dhoni, and that is between us. He has ended his Test career; he may soon end his ODI career. In all probability, he will finish One-day cricket,” Ravi Shastri told CNN News18.
People must respect that he’s played non-stop in all formats of the game for a while.”
“At his age, probably the only format he’ll want to play is T20 cricket, which indicates he’ll have to start playing again, get back into the groove because he’s going to play in the IPL and see how his body reacts.”
The coach repeated that the 38-year-old veteran could still be a contender for the T20 World Cup if he does well in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2020.
“So he will be left with T20, he will surely play the IPL. One thing I know about MS Dhoni is that he will not force himself on the team. But if he has a cracking IPL, well, then.”
MS Dhoni’s last outing in India colours was during the World Cup semifinal against New Zealand in July, where he was run out following a half-century.
Ravi Shastri told form and experience will be taken into consideration while selecting the team for the shortest format’s biggest event.
“We will have to consider a person’s experience and form. They will bat in the number 5-6 position. If Dhoni performs well in the IPL, then he does put himself in contention.”
MS Dhoni, who is on vacation right now, has set up for the country in 350 ODIs, 90 Tests and 98 T20 Internationals while effecting a staggering 829 dismissals behind the stumps.
His career is studded with many milestones, including leading India to the trophy in the 2011 World Cup, where he finished the trophy clash with a six.
As the conversation turned to four-day Tests, Ravi Shastri, like some of the greats of the game such as Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, opposed the idea.
Ravi Shastri also slammed the ICC’s four-day Test proposal, calling the concept ‘nonsense’. “Four day Test is nonsense,” India Head Coach Ravi Shastri said.
“If this goes on, we may have limited-overs Tests. There is no need to tamper with five-day Tests. If at all they want to tamper, then let the top six teams play five-day Tests and the next six be allowed to play four-day Tests.”
“If you want to protect Tests, then let the top six play more against each other. You have the shorter format to popularise the game.”
When questioned about day-night Tests, Ravi Shastri called on ICC to get the ball right.
“Day-night Test is still under test. I still feel that the pink ball does not give any help to spinners; they need to get the ball right for day night. During the day you have full Tests, by night, it looks like half Tests.”
“I still feel that you will get more people to watch Test matches if you have the top six play each other (more often).”
