MS Dhoni’s retirement talks have been grabbing the headlines for quite a while now. Most of the people from experts to commoners have had their say on whether it’s time for the Indian veteran to hang his boots or not.
Dhoni last played in the 2019 World Cup where he blew a tad hot and cold. After that, he took a two-month break from cricket to serve the Indian Army. He didn’t play the ODI and T20I series in the West Indies. It now remains to be seen if and when he returns to don the national jersey.
According to reports, the selectors have decided to “move forward” and give maximum chances to Rishabh Pant keeping in mind the T20 World Cup in Australia next year. As per the same report, the selectors will most likely meet on September 4 to pick the squad for the three-match T20I series against South Africa, starting September 15 in Dharamshala.
“There are only 22 T20 Internationals before India play their first World T20 game and selectors are clear in their vision that it’s time to move forward,” Hindustan Times quoted a senior BCCI official privy to developments in selection committee as saying. “They are planning on getting a pool of three keepers ready for limited-overs, especially T20s.”
Other than Rishabh Pant, the two names which are doing rounds are Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan.
However, leaving the decision of calling it a day to MS Dhoni, the Indian selectors could go for Rishabh Pant to manage the glovework in the South Africa series. The 21-year-old failed in the first two matches against the Windies but slammed 65 not out in 42 balls in the third T20I in Guyana.
“Retirement is an individual decision and selectors, or for that matter, no one has any right to decide on that front. But they have every right to decide the roadmap for the 2020 World T20, and that’s to give Rishabh Pant maximum chances,” the BCCI official further said.
