'My sixth sense says he will get a chance in the T20 World Cup' - MS Dhoni's childhood coach

With the proliferation of the global pandemic Coronavirus [COVID-19], the entire world is locked up. And, with India currently under a 21-day curfew, the chances of the Indian Premier League starting from April 15th are well nigh impossible. The 13th edition of the tournament was scheduled to take place from March 29th but with the situation regarding COVID-19 escalating to such an extent, the tournament was postponed till April 15.

But, with the situation not showing any signs of improvement, it looks highly unlikely that the 13th edition of the cash-rich league will take place this year. One of the biggest attractions of this year’s IPL was Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The former Indian captain hasn’t played a competitive game since the 2019 semi-final defeat in Manchester last July. Dhoni’s International future has been a source of contention since then, and the likes of head coach Ravi Shastri and the newly elected chairman of selectors had previously revealed that the only way that Dhoni can make his way into the team for the T20 World Cup in Australia is if he has a brilliant IPL campaign.

But, with the IPL in jeopardy, does it mean that Dhoni’s chances of making it to the T20 World Cup are all but over? Dhoni’s childhood coach Keshav Ranjan Banerjee doesn’t think so! He believes that his sixth-sense says that the former World Cup-winning captain will make his way into the national team for the T20 World Cup.

“In the current scenario, IPL looks unlikely and we will have to wait for BCCI’s call. His (Dhoni’s) position will become tough obviously. But my sixth sense says he will get a chance in the T20 World Cup, which will be his last,” Banerjee was quoted as saying by India Today.

MS Dhoni was recently sweating it out in CSK’s pre-season camp 

“I spoke to him last after he returned from Chennai and I’m in constant touch with his parents. He’s doing his fitness training and is fully fit. Now let’s wait for the BCCI’s decision. There’s no tournament. ICC tournaments are off till June. So we will have to wait and see.”

Dhoni may not have played any competitive game since July but his coach things that considering he has played as many as 538 International games, it wouldn’t take much time for him to come back into the groove.

“True that he has not played a tournament (since July 2019) but for someone with 538 International matches, I don’t think it would take much time to adjust. It would have been a different scenario for a beginner. But it’s not the case with Dhoni he has got a wealth of experience. I think he will get a last chance,” maintained Banerjee.

He added: “He is fully fit and trained in Chennai for a week or so. Now everything is closed in Ranchi, earlier he would train at the JSCA. But now he’s confined at home and making use of the facilities at home. He has a gym, a badminton court, and a running corridor. I’m sure BCCI (president, selectors, captain) are aware of the scenario. They will make the announcement when it’s the right time.”