Is MS Dhoni Going To Retire Soon? Here's Why The Wicket-Keeper Batsman Is Still The Right Man for India Till ICC World Cup 2019!

Is MS Dhoni going to retire? The question has become a buzz after the drubbing India faced against England in the three-match ODI series. The questions regarding his retirement and poor batting form have irked even the core group of his supporters. The former Indian captain has received a lot of flak for his batting style in the limited-overs format of late.

Once revered as the best finishers of all times in the game of cricket, MS Dhoni has carved a cult status for himself in Indian cricket. His calm persona, lightning-quick work behind the stumps and unprecedented decision-making skills on the field are what made him one of the most iconic players.

However, one trait that made Dhoni stand-out amongst the rest of cricketers in the modern era is his style of batting; playing with finesse and brute force; forcing singles and converting it into twos; and not to forget, clearing the boundary ropes at will.

So, what went downhill for one of the most celebrated wicket-keeper batsmen in the modern era? Is it the age factor or is it just a dip in form, which every other player has to face in the twilight of his career? Call it whatever you want, but going by the way Dhoni is batting currently, he is a shadow of what he used to be during his prime.

Dhoni’s stint with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 made many believe that the Dhoni of the yesteryears has finally arrived. However, the Thalaiva has failed to carry his form while playing in the blue jersey. His batting performances haven’t been of what a player of his potential can do.

The clamour for him taking retirement is rising gradually. And as Dhoni kept the match-ball after India lost to England in the third ODI match at Headingley, and eventually the series; the act has only added fuel to the growing speculations about his retirement.

With all said and done, also seeing how has the Indian team has performed recently, one cannot deny the multiple roles MS Dhoni is playing on the field. After giving up the ODI captaincy in 2016, Dhoni is still seen calling the shots from behind the stumps.

It is often seen that captain Virat Kohli has turned to the veteran for his advice during the crunch situations in both ODIs and T20Is. Also, Dhoni grooming and nurturing young players in the squad, especially the spin-duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav has been quite a revelation, and that has paid enormous dividends for India.

Be it deciding upon the Decision Review System (DRS) or even setting field placements during the match, Dhoni still seems to be the unofficial commander-in-chief of the Men in Blue brigade.

So, instead of asking when will MS Dhoni retire, the more significant question, here is, should MS Dhoni retire from ODIs? We take a look at the options that the Indian team has.

There are quite a few (read fewer) alternatives for the Indian team if at all one contemplates Dhoni’s retirement. Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant, Ambati Rayudu, and KL Rahul are some of the names, which come to our mind when there is a mention of a wicket-keeper.

Pant is a newbie and has little experience to play on the big stage. KL Rahul and Rayudu are not full-time wicket-keepers, and the team cannot afford to have them as reserve-keepers in the squad too. The only option that comes close to Dhoni’s replacement is, Karthik.

However, Karthik has himself been in-and-out of the Indian team for quite a long time. Also, there is little for him to offer other than his stupendous red-hot-form that he currently is in. This makes a case for Karthik as a reserve-keeper in the squad.

With the next ICC World Cup only a year away, the Indian team management does not have any other credible options to bank upon in place of MS Dhoni. His impeccable wicket-keeping skills and the bankability that he brings with him in the middle-order is unmatchable.

Call him whatever -- Captain cool, the best finisher, the best wicket-keeper, Mr Dependable, or even Dhoni Review System -- one cannot deny that there is no viable replacement available for MS Dhoni since his shoes are too big for any player to fill.

Yes, Dhoni’s dip in form and his slow-cautious approach in recent times can be questioned. However, one cannot deny one of the greatest of all times has to have his last hurrah at the ICC World Cup 2019!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 19, 2018 11:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).