Following India’s exit from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 after their shocking defeat to New Zealand in the first semi-final, speculations have been rife that wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni would soon retire from international cricket.
While there has been no official word on the same from the BCCI or the veteran stumper, Mahi’s parents don’t wish for their son to continue as India can’t handle the ‘big property’ anymore. Keshav Banerjee, his childhood coach from Ranchi, visited Dhoni’s family at their home on Sunday where they discussed the matter.
“Dhoni’s parents told me that the entire media is saying that he should retire, and we feel they’re right. They said we can’t handle this big property anymore,” Banerjee was quoted as saying in Sports Tak.
However, he has asked them to hold their patience for one more year. “You’ve handled it for so long – around 10 to 12 years. You can do it another year,” he added.
Banerjee also told Dhoni’s parents that the experienced campaigner should play until the 2020 edition of the T20 World Cup in Australia, which is scheduled to begin on October 18.
Dhoni had a topsy-turvy run the World Cup 2019. He could only manage 273 runs in eight innings. He got the top score of 56 not out against the West Indies. In the semis against New Zealand at the Old Trafford, he scored a gritty half-century and kept India’s winning hopes alive. But, in the penultimate over of the match, Martin Guptill pulled off a sensational direct hit to run MSD out and also seal the fate of the encounter.
