MS Dhoni Retirement News Incorrect! Chief Selector MSK Prasad Rubbishes Indian Wicket-Keeper Batsman's Retirement Rumours
MS Dhoni of late had been struggling to score consistent runs in Indian jersey and scored his last century over two years ago. In 49 innings, since his last ODI century – 134 against England in January 2017 – the 38-year-old has hit 12 half-centuries but not managed to covert a single score into a hundred. His highest score in that period was 87 in Australia earlier this year.
MSK Prasad, the chief selector of the Indian national cricket team, quashed all rumours of MS Dhoni's possible retirement from international cricket. Prasad, who announced India's 15-member Test squad for the three-match Test series against South Africa - beginning October 2 - confirmed that rumours and speculations doing rounds about Dhoni's retirement were fake and that there was no such information. Prasad also stated that Dhoni has not spoken of calling it quits nor has called for a press conference. MS Dhoni to Retire? Fans Trend #Dhoni and Term it 'Black Day' in Indian Cricket as Former Indian Captain's Retirement Rumours Gain Pace (See Tweets).
Dhoni of late had been struggling to score consistent runs in Indian jersey and scored his last century over two years ago. In 49 innings, since his last ODI century – 134 against England in January 2017 – the 38-year-old has hit 12 half-centuries but not managed to covert a single score into a hundred. His highest score in that period was 87 in Australia earlier this year. The wicket-keeper has also often been criticised for consuming more deliveries at the start of his innings – which puts pressure on the other batsmen – before going gung-ho at the end. India vs South Africa 2019: KL Rahul Dropped, Shubman Gill Gets Maiden Test Call-Up as BCCI Announces India Squad for Test Series.
MSK Prasad Rubbishes Rumours
But despite his poor form and struggles with the bat, as age caught up with him, Dhoni remains one of India’s greatest ever – perhaps the greatest – wicketkeeper-batsman. The right-hander, who made his India debut against Bangladesh in 2004, is India’s fifth highest ODI run-scorer and third highest run-scorer in Twenty20 internationals. Dhoni is also the only five Indian batsman and 14th overall to cross the 10, 000 barriers in ODI cricket. He is also India’s third top run-scorer in T20Is after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Dhoni has 10, 773 runs in 350 ODIs for India with the highest score of 183 not-out and an average of 50.57. He smashed 10 centuries and 73 fifties in his 15-year long cricket career and remains the highest run-scorer for batsmen batting at No 6 or below in One-Day Internationals. The World Cup-winning skipper is also India’s second most capped ODI player after the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 12, 2019 05:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).