‘Once MS Dhoni makes up his mind, he makes up his mind’ - Ravi Shastri opens up on legendary cricketer’s Test career

Even after not playing any international or first-class cricket, MS Dhoni is still as sharp as he ever was from behind the stumps. The 41-year-old is taking some brilliant catches and most importantly, hasn’t lost his power to intercept and trouble the batter on the striker’s end. With that, fans on social media have jokingly made a request to Dhoni, asking him to make a comeback in the national squad for the one-off match against Australia in the World Test Championship finale.

Speaking about the same, former India coach Ravi Shastri hilariously replied that he should indeed make his comeback after proving his worth in the ongoing IPL 2023. However, he later clarified that once Dhoni made up his mind of quitting Test cricket, there was no way back for him. The former cricketer also mentioned that the legendary stumper-batter could have easily played 100 Test matches but instead, he put his hands up to give others a chance.

“Oh ya. He has shown a lot of young keepers in the country with the way he has kept in IPL for someone who doesn't play first-class cricket,” Shastri said while talking to ESPNcricinfo about MS Dhoni’s inclusion in WTC final squad.

He would have loved that 100 Test match mark, He doesn't want that: Shastri

Furthermore, Ravi Shastri praised Dhoni by iterating that he never played for individual records, especially at a time when Indian cricket was more inclined towards being a statistically driven cricket approach. Else it comes as no surprise to him that MS Dhoni could have easily played 100 Tests for the country. In fact, as per Shastri, Dhoni could have played for over Year and a half had he not retired from Test cricket.

“Once MS makes up his mind, he makes up his mind. In Test cricket, where he could have easily played for a year or year and a half, if he was statistically driven like our country is then he would have loved that 100 Test match mark, that big crowd, nice ceremony, walk around the crowd, say good bye to everyone...he doesn't want that. He's like hands up, new man is there, let him be,” Shastri added.

Notably, the two-time World Cup-winning captain has played a total of 90 Test matches in his career, scoring 4876 runs at an average of 38.09. He retired from Test cricket in December 2014 while retiring from international cricket in 2020. Currently, he is leading Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing Indian Premier League.