Every year, the Indian Premier League changes a lot of cricketer’s fortunes. Several young cricketers get this platform to showcase their skills, while out-of-favour cricketers get it as a chance to get back into their respective teams. For MS Dhoni it’s the latter case, as of now.
The former Indian captain has not featured for even a single game in the national colours since the heartbreaking semi-final game in the 2019 World Cup. Dhoni perhaps has been on a sabbatical and was likely to make his comeback in the IPL 2020.
But with the Coronavirus outbreak across the globe, this richest T20 franchise tournament has been postponed and with that, Dhoni’s prospects of making into the T20 World Cup squad, unfortunately, look grim.
Considering the fact, that MS Dhoni hasn’t announced his retirement from the limited over’s cricket, he perhaps would have been eying the T20 World Cup. However, if the Indian Premier League didn’t happen this year, he might not even be considered for the shortest format of the T20 World Cup.
Former Indian cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth also expressed similar views.
“I am not going to be diplomatic. I am talking about if I was the chairman of the selection committee, what would I do. If the IPL does not happen then his (Dhoni”s) chances are very, very bleak,” said Srikkanth on Star Sports” show Cricket Connected.
“Because straightaway in my opinion, KL Rahul will be the wicketkeeper-batsman, Rishabh Pant, I still think he might be a bit of a doubt, but I believe that Rishabh Pant is highly talented”
“So, I wouldn”t mind taking him along with the squad, but definitely if the IPL doesn’t happen, then Dhoni will have a difficult time getting back into the team for the T20 World Cup.”
Nevertheless, Dhoni has been the face of Indian cricket for over a decade. He has led India to win the inaugural T20 World Cup 2007 and 50 over World Cup in 2011. Dhoni has played 90 test matches, 350 one-day internationals and 98 tests for India in which he has scored 4867, 10773 and 1617 runs respectively.
