MS Dhoni skips Vijay Hazare Trophy for home state Jharkhand

MS Dhoni is a cricketer who is not seen playing much cricket for Jharkhand in the domestic circuit. This year too, he has chosen not to play for his home state in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy even though he had played all six games for them in 2017. Though there are indications that the 37-year-old might turn up for Jharkhand from the knock-out stage of the tournament which is starting on October 14.

Dhoni has a much lesser burden of international cricket on his shoulders since he only plays the limited-overs cricket – the 50-over and 20-over games. His last major assignments came months apart as he toured England only for the limited-over series and the recently held Asia Cup. However, despite having enough time and least fatigue factor, the veteran has decided not to give much of a go for his home state in the domestic limited-overs tournament. Jharkhand played quite a few games after the Asia Cup got over but Dhoni didn’t appear in any.

For some, playing domestic cricket could give the ageing wicket-keeper-batsman much-needed touch his fans are looking from his blade. MS Dhoni has slowed down considerably as a batsman and his ordinary strike rate has disappointed fans. In the recent Asia Cup, the former India captain scored 77 runs from 124 balls and did not hit any six, figures that speak of a different batsman compared to the vintage Dhoni.

Though he remains India’s first-choice wicket-keeper still but another ordinary show in the five-match series against Windies starting later this month could see him struggling in the run-up to the next World Cup in England in 2019.

Jharkhand cricket body doesn’t see any problem in it

Jharkhand’s cricket administrators, however, do not see anything wrong in Dhoni’s preferences. Debasish Chakraborty, secretary, Jharkhand Cricket Association, told Mumbai Mirror, “Dhoni has been training with the team since September and has been involved in all aspects of the game. He has been playing the role of mentor. It hardly matters if a player of his stature takes part in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.”

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