'MS Dhoni mostly won't play for India again' - Aakash Chopra

Amid MS Dhoni’s absence from the cricket field, speculations have been doing rounds across social media. The former Indian skipper has not played a single game since India’s thumping defeat against New Zealand in the semi-final of ICC World Cup 2019. The Indian veteran went on a sabbatical and since then, many rumours have been surfacing regarding his retirement.

Furthermore, BCCI removing Dhoni’s name from their annual contract list fueled the 38-year-old’s retirement rumours. Team India’s head coach Ravi Shastri had also stated that Dhoni’s return to the national team will be dependent on his performance in IPL 2020. However, the much-awaited tournament has come to a halt due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic. The feasibility of the league looks bleak and so does MS Dhoni’s future.

In such critical situation, cricketer-turned commentator Aakash Chopra feels that Dhoni won’t don the Indian jersey ever again. The Ranchi-born wicketkeeper-batsman hasn’t revealed his future plans yet but Chopra feels that Dhoni won’t be making himself available for India ever again.

‘MS Dhoni has played his last game for India’: Aakash Chopra

Speaking with Ramiz Raja in a YouTube video, Chopra opined that Dhoni’s prolonged absence from the sport means that he may have decided to bid adieu to his career.

“Dhoni has not told anyone anything yet. He hasn’t called it a day and might play in the IPL. But I feel he played his last game (for India) in the 2019 World Cup. He hasn’t been dropped, he hasn’t made himself available and mostly won’t play for India again,” Chopra said.

Chopra also feels that Dhoni won’t brace the field unless someone like Ganguly, Kohli or Shastri persuade the former Indian skipper to play the upcoming T20 World Cup. Chopra also opined that Dhoni may have made up his mind that he doesn’t need a farewell match before calling it quits.

“He won’t play again unless someone like Sourav (Ganguly), Virat Kohli or Ravi Shastri ask him to play in the World T20. I feel he’s made up his mind that he doesn’t need a farewell match. He’s someone who will go away without making noise,” said Chopra.