Selectors should inform MS Dhoni that he’s no more seen as front line keeper: Virender Sehwag

With ace wicketkeeper-batsman, MS Dhoni still taking his time to make the decision on his future in international cricket, the Indian selectors and team management is still wondering how to go about it. Diverse suggestions are pouring on and although it is being said that the 38-year-old cricketer will not be a part of the Indian squad that will tour the West Indies between August 3 and September 3, the confusion is far from over.

Has Dhoni played his last match for India or is there more to the drama? It was being speculated that Dhoni would hang up his boots after the World Cup but ever since his run-out in the semi-final game against New Zealand that dashed India’s hopes, the wait has been endless. Captain Virat Kohli also said that Dhoni hadn’t divulged details about his plan.

The selectors will pick the Indian squad for the Caribbean tour on Friday and although Dhoni has reportedly made himself unavailable for the series, experts have continued to express their views on how the entire episode should be handled. Former India opener Virender Sehwag, who had played under Dhoni’s captaincy, said the latter has all rights to take a call on his retirement.

He also said that chief selector MSK Prasad should reach out to Dhoni to reflect on his future if the selectors do not see him as the first-choice keeper-batsman here on.

“It should be left to MS Dhoni to decide when to hang his boots. The duty of the selectors is to reach out to Dhoni and inform him that he is no more being seen as India’s wicket-keeper batsman going forward. I wish the selectors had asked me as well about my plans so I would also have been able to inform them,” Timesnownews.com reported about Sehwag saying so in a panel discussion.

No point in talking to a player after he is dropped, says Sehwag

During the discussion, even Sehwag’s own retirement saga came into focus. When former chief selector Sandeep Patil said that the responsibility to talk to Sehwag about his future was given to Vikram Rathore. To this, Sehwag said Rathore had spoken to him only after he was dropped and said such a move makes no sense.

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“If MSK Prasad speaks to Dhoni after he is dropped, what would Dhoni say – that he would play first-class cricket and the selectors should pick him if he scores runs. The point is that the selectors should reach out to cricketers before they are dropped,” he said.

It was also being said Dhoni would now take the responsibility of grooming Rishabh Pant as his successor behind the stumps.