MS Dhoni to retire after 2019 World Cup? MSK Prasad reveals the answer

Not very long ago, fans and majority of the former players were busy debating over whether MS Dhoni should retire from the game. Dhoni’s form was showing no signs of improvement and the emergence of Rishabh Pant only made things worse for him.  Dhoni had a 2018 to forget. He managed just 275 runs in 20 ODIs last year and was at the receiving end of some severe criticism with majority suggesting that the time is right for the former skipper to hang his boots.

However, all the retirement talks have taken the back seat as of now after the veteran batsman’s stunning start to 2019. He hit the ground running after joining the team for the three-match ODI series in Australia. The 37-year old scored fifties in all the three games, helping India win their first-ever bilateral ODI series on the Australian soil.

Dhoni finished the series as the top-scorer, scoring 193 runs to bag the Man of the Series gong. He did not get too many opportunities in New Zealand but his 33-ball 48* runs knock in the second ODI was enough to show that he is going through a fine phase.

With Dhoni in red-hot form, the critics have shut their mouth and he has once again become Team India’s crisis man in ODIs. But as the World Cup draws near, the apprehensions are elevating that it might be the legendary player’s last swansong. Well, chief selector, MSK Prasad has given the Dhoni faithful a big relief by saying that the selectors have not discussed anything with Dhoni regarding his retirement.

“We have definitely not discussed this. Because prior to such a big tournament, I do not think it is wise to get distracted, since all energies are geared towards preparing well for the World Cup,” he said in a conversation with ESPNCricinfo.

‘Dhoni most important’:

Prasad, meanwhile, also said that Dhoni will be key to India’s chances in the upcoming World Cup. The former India wicketkeeper pointed out how Dhoni is important not just as a player but also as the on-field mentor of the team.

“He is going to be the most important guy for India in the World Cup: be it in his advisory role to Virat, be it with his wicketkeeping, be it with is on-field mentoring of young players,” Prasad said.

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