After the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, a lot of focus and talk was around veteran Indian wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni. Fans, media and several pundits were seen discussing Dhoni’s retirement and whether he should call it a day after an illustrious career. But MSD isn’t retiring any time soon.
The BCCI confirmed the same on Saturday ahead of India’s squad announcement for the West Indies tour. So this rests the Dhoni retirement talks and interests of cricket fanatics.
On the other hand, Dhoni has taken a two-month break from cricket and hence wasn’t of the West Indies tour. Dhoni was missing from India’s limited-overs squad. The former Indian skipper will rather be spending this time with his regiment. Notably, MS Dhoni is an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment of the Territorial Army.
We might see MSD make a return for the home series against South Africa in September. India play a three-match T20I series against the Proteas, besides the same number of Test matches. The T20I series starts from September 15 onwards.
Dhoni had a decent campaign at the ICC World Cup 2019. He amassed 273 runs that included several useful contributions. He also smashed a fifty in the semi-final against New Zealand and almost got India home. Dhoni has shown his traits of a fine performer even at the age of 37 this year. There is still fire in that belly.
So what’s Dhoni’s role now in this Indian side? Is he going to hang around? What’s in mind of the player and the management?
Here we look at the same and why Dhoni’s presence is so crucial for Team India.
MSD the man in time of transition
Now the important aspect of Dhoni’s current situation is that the player is keen to help the Indian side during a phase of transition. Dhoni has been in the scenario for close to 15 years now and Indian team will want him to groom someone like a Rishabh Pant, who is touted to be the next main keeper of the Indian side.
Pant has already taken over in Tests and will take over the baton in limited-overs cricket as well. Not just Pant, India will be also needing to groom the likes of Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, who could be Pant’s replacements if the latter gets injured.
So going forward at least for a year, Dhoni will be with the Indian side helping out the management. Now, as per media reports, going forward Dhoni will not travel with the side as the number one wicket-keeper, but be the back-up. Also, he will be in the squad, but not in the starting XI on a frequent basis. The idea is to sit down with Pant and help him see the game.
Therefore, we will see Pant getting the chances and Dhoni will utilise the time in grooming the youngster.
Pant will hope to maximise from the grooming
This is a positive development and the decision to identify MSD’s role seems like a masterstroke. Pant is still a raw product and lacks experience. He is immature as seen in the ICC World Cup 2019. He is someone who isn’t that player to get the side past the line. That maturity in him hasn’t come as of yet. He plays with a positive energy and scores boundaries.
Also, he gets off to starts, but once set, he plays a reckless shot to get dismissed. That’s where Dhoni comes to help him. Pant has a bagful of talent and promise though. He brings that X-factor out and can be a match-winner. Not just keeping, but MSD can help Pant with some great insights on how to finish off games.
Also, Pant needs work behind the stumps to be a great wicket-keeper. With Dhoni being a legendary keeper, he is the best man to develop Pant as a fine custodian to keep wickets. The selectors and the management have immense trust in Pant’s qualities. That’s why he is there ahead of other young keepers. But he cannot afford to slip down the pecking order.
Also in Dhoni’s absence, Pant is set to get a lot of game time. That will help him get more experience. “He (Dhoni) is unavailable for this series. We had certain roadmaps till World Cup and we subsequently have some plans and we want to groom Pant and that is the plan right now. Pant hasn’t done anything wrong for his non-inclusion in the playing XI,” said chief selector MSK Prasad while announcing the squad for Windies tour.
MSD a master who earlier groomed Kohli
The best part about MSD is that he groomed Virat Kohli earlier and helped him settle down as a captain. The moment when MSD thought it’s time to let Kohli take command was when he quit captaincy. The ploy worked. Kohli donned the role well and is improving with each passing day.
The most important part is that Kohli still considers MSD as his skipper and respects him immensely. There is that element of trust in MSD. He still consults the veteran for many decisions even up till now. The latest was seen at the 2019 World Cup. Also, same applies for vice-captain Rohit Sharma.
The entire management regards Dhoni as a master and there is a lot of respect all around. Dhoni also gets that space he deserves. At the moment nobody in the BCCI and the team is concerned about Dhoni’s retirement.
Prasad threw his weight behind the same. “Retirement is purely individual (decision). A legendary cricketer like Dhoni, he knows when to retire. What is the future course of action, that is in the hands of the selection committee. I don’t think we need to discuss anything more on it,” he added.