Former Indian captain MS Dhoni on Saturday made himself “unavailable” for the tour of West Indies but ruled out immediate retirement a day before the selectors meet in Mumbai to pick the squads for the upcoming away series.
Amid mounting speculation around his international retirement after India’s semi-final exit from the recently concluded World Cup, Dhoni has told the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he will take a two-month break from the game to serve his paramilitary regiment.
“We would like to clarify three things. MS Dhoni is not retiring from cricket right now. He is taking a two-month sabbatical to serve his paramilitary regiment which he had committed much earlier.
“We have now intimated his decision to skipper Virat Kohli and chairman of selectors MSK Prasad,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on Saturday.
“The selection committee has always been clear on one issue. They have no right to tell anyone irrespective of their stature as to when they should call it quits but when it comes to team selection, it remains their domain.”
India’s tour of the West Indies will begin with a three-match T20I series starting August 3. The teams will then play three ODIs and two Test matches between August 8-30.
With Dhoni pulling out of the tour, Rishabh Pant is expected to be the first wicketkeeper in all three formats while Wriddhiman Saha will be Pant’s standby in the Tests.
Here is how Twitter reacted to MS Dhoni’s decision:
Not 2 minutes, but 2 months silence for some media and reporters who were waiting for announcements and masala on MS Dhoni. 😀 #Dhoni pic.twitter.com/F6BdhX7Ph7
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) July 20, 2019
In the two month break from Cricket, Lt. Col. MS Dhoni will serve the Territorial Army Parachute Regiment. ( 106 Para TA Batallion ). #ParaMilitary #Para 🇮🇳 #SaturdayMotivation pic.twitter.com/exiJjHAJon
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) July 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/SRKMSD7/status/1152498363817816065
@msdhoni to be part of his regiment for next two month. Oh that is lovely. At least not showoff like many other honourary captains or territorial army free recruits. Best wishes Dhoni.
— Jhaji卐 (@pkj_star) July 20, 2019
MS Dhoni will not be availablr for WI tour.. but he he will be with Para military arm forces…#respect, this is sportsmanspirit…#Duty_4_Motherland
— sanjay parmar (@sanjayparmar83) July 20, 2019
Dhoni, in this lifetime you made me an MSDian before anything else.
All I wish now is love my country India 1% of the way you do.🇮🇳MS Dhoni to serve the Indian army next 2 months. Cant be more proud.🇮🇳
— Srijeeta Guha (@Srijeeta7) July 20, 2019
