Dhoni never imposed himself on an Indian team, reveals Ravi Shastri

Although it’s been six months since former skipper MS Dhoni last played an international fixture but it seems like the captain cool is never out of the limelight. Let it be Rishabh Pant’s failure or speculations about his future, Dhoni has always managed to be the talk of the town.

Dhoni last played the semi-final of World Cup 2019 against New Zealand which saw them crash out of the gala event. As reports surfaced of him hitting the nets, talks about his return flared up before he made himself unavailable for the West Indies series at home. 

Speaking about the keeper batsman’s future in the side, head coach Ravi Shastri informed that he wanted to take a break while he also stressed that Dhoni never imposed himself on the team.

“That guy is a legend. The last thing he will want is to impose himself on an Indian team, having known him. He is wanting to take a break but he is going to play the IPL,” Hindustan Times quoted Shastri.

The head coach hoped that Dhoni will take a call after the IPL next year while he urged not to “mess around” with something which is entirely the gloveman's call.

“The amount of sport he has played... if he puts himself in contention... if he feels after the IPL that ‘I am good enough to play for India’, don’t mess around with that.”

After India crashing out of the World Cup, he underwent a training stint with the Territorial Army -- 106 TA Battalion (Para) in Jammu and Kashmir for two weeks before making himself unavailable for selection until now for series against West Indies, South Africa and Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the outgoing National selection committee chairman MSK Prasad made it clear last month that the panel has “moved on” and Dhoni is aware of its intent to blood youngsters such as Pant keeping in mind the T20 World Cup in Australia.