Reports: MS Dhoni likely to make himself available for selection after IPL 2020

Former World Cup-winning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni may not have played a single International fixture for Team India since the World Cup, but the charismatic wicketkeeper-batsman manages to stay in the news, regardless. Dhoni was once again the flavour of social media and of discussions between fans and pundits when his name was dropped from the annual contract list by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

As the news of MS Dhoni getting omitted from the contract list spread like wildfire, fans on social media began to trend #ThankyouDhoni on social media but as has been reported before, Dhoni not getting an annual contract does not mean that he cannot play for India anymore, and the same has now been confirmed a source.

According to a Times of India source, the contracts were given on a technical basis and not on the stature of the individual. The source also revealed that Dhoni not getting an annual contract does not mean he will not be considered for selection in the future while also asserting that the player’s lack of cricketing activity in the past six months had made him ineligible for the central contract.

“But that doesn’t mean he won’t be considered for any selection in the future. Then it is up to the selectors and it is up to individual performances. What if he single-handedly takes CSK to victory in IPL? Won’t that matter? People should stop jumping the gun. His absence from the annual retainership doesn’t mean a thing,” the source revealed

MS Dhoni to remain available for selection after the IPL?

According to the report in TOI, Dhoni will not hang his boots from international cricket till the end of the IPL and is expected to make himself available for national selection in the build-up to the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia. The source cited the example of Harbhajan Singh when he said that Dhoni is not the only player who has remained inactive from national duties but is yet to announce his retirement.

The source added, “Even Harbhajan Singh hasn’t played since 2015-16. He hasn’t announced his retirement either. Nobody wants to ask him why he hasn’t done it. Maybe Dhoni makes a bigger headline and people love headlines. Retirement, be it Dhoni or Harbhajan or any other cricketer, is a very personal decision. Selecting or dropping a player is the selection committee’s decision. Dhoni will not play in the ODIs again. So how can he be part of the central contracts?”

Meanwhile, MS Dhoni sprung a surprise on Thursday when he appeared at the Jharkhand’s training session ahead of their Ranji Trophy, prompting the speculations of him possibly turning out for his state team in the four-day competition.

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