Amid Covid-19 outbreak, major sporting events have been affected, which includes the biggest cricketing tournament, the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 13th edition of the lucrative league was suspended by BCCI till April 15.
Many fans were hoping that the upcoming IPL would be a perfect stage for MS Dhoni’s comeback, but now the waiting period is extended to April 15.Last time fans saw the former Indian skipper on a cricket field was in England when India played a semi-final game of 2019 World Cup against New Zealand.
The biggest reason that fans want to see Dhoni getting back into the touch is the T20 World Cup scheduled to be played in Australia later this year as they feel that a good run in IPL would surely give MSD a place in the squad for the showpiece event.
However, former India opener Aakash Chopra believes that Dhoni does not need the IPL to make his international comeback as he knows what he is doing.
“For a player like Dhoni, IPL was never going to be a yardstick. If he had scored runs in the IPL, experts would have been like ‘select Dhoni,’ ‘do this and do that.’ MS Dhoni knows what he is doing, whether he wants to come back or not,” Chopra said in a YouTube video as quoted by HT.
Chopra said that the cash-rich league isn’t a crucial factor to decide whether Dhoni should be picked or not, it’s up to him and the selectors.
“IPL, I don’t think it was a critical factor. If he wants to come back, he will make himself available; if the selectors decide to pick him, he will be selected automatically because you won’t get experience in supermarkets,” added Chopra.
The former Delhi player also expressed that a player like Dhoni won’t be picked on the grounds of his IPL performance. If the Indian team needs him, then IPL wouldn’t matter at all.
“Dhoni is a hugely experienced player. If India needs MS Dhoni, then with or without IPL, he will come back.”
