World Cup 2019: Virat Kohli responds to the question on MS Dhoni’s retirement

MS Dhoni! The name is enough for the fans to react. The man who won all the ICC trophies while leading Team India probably walked back to the dressing room for the last time in the India colours at the Old Trafford. This was supposed to be his last World Cup and many wanted the Men in Blue to win the trophy for him. And the veteran was in the middle to take the team one step close to the dream. But it was not to be.

Martin Guptill stunningly ran him out and India’s hopes ended there itself. However, when MS Dhoni was walking back, there was one question popping in every fan’s mind. Has he played his last game? Will MS Dhoni play again for India? No wonder the question was asked to the captain Virat Kohli after the match in the press conference as well.

The Indian skipper, however, paused for a while and clearly denied stating that the former captain is yet to talk to him or the team about his retirement. “No, he hasn’t told us anything about his future,” Kohli said when asked about Dhoni’s retirement who turned 38 only three days ago.

India go down fighting

As far as the match is concerned, India should be lauded for their fighting spirit. At 92/6 in the 31st over, the game looked done and dusted for the Men in Blue. But Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni stitched an inspiring partnership of 116 runs for the seventh wicket to give a huge scare to New Zealand. The former played the knock of his life to score 77 off just 59 deliveries but got out in the 48th over.

The stage was set for MS Dhoni to finish the game for India for the whopping 48th time in his career. He began the penultimate over of the chase in the same fashion smashing Lockie Ferguson for a six as well. But on the third ball of the over, the veteran stuttered for a second before going for a second run and it was enough for Guptill to catch him short of the crease.

Though Virat Kohli has denied the news as of now, the retirement announcement might be coming any time soon from India’s one of the greatest ever player.