Reports | MS Dhoni no more first-choice wicketkeeper, will not be picked for Windies tour

Reports | MS Dhoni no more first-choice wicketkeeper, will not be picked for Windies tour

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According to reports, former Indian skipper MS Dhoni will no longer be considered as the first-choice wicketkeeper, with Rishabh Pant set to pip him for the role. Dhoni is also expected to be omitted from the ODI squad to face the Windies, with the selectors set to announce the squad on July 19.

MS Dhoni's inclusion in the Indian squad to face the Windies has been under the cloud for a few days now, but reports have now suggested that the 38-year-old is set to be left out of the tour to Windies, with Rishabh Pant set to take over as the first-choice wicketkeeper. The reports have come on the wake of rumours suggesting that Dhoni was set to be overlooked for the tour of the Windies.

It is also believed that Dhoni is no more certainty in the starting XI and that a place in the 15-man squad might not necessarily mean that he will be a part of the playing XI. With Pant set to turn 22 in a few months time, it is believed that the selectors will look to groom the youngster by giving him a very big window to settle, keeping the 2020 World T20 in mind, which is set to take place in Australia. 

“MS will not go to the West Indies. Going forward, he will not travel with the team within India or overseas as the first-choice wicketkeeper. Rishabh Pant will take over and there will be a grooming window for him until he settles down," a source close to the BCCI was quoted as saying by Times of India. 

The source also revealed that Dhoni will be looked as a guiding force to help Pant with the transition. Rumours surrounding Dhoni's retirement have been aplenty ever since the World Cup exit, but it is likely that the veteran cricketer won't be pressurized to retire anytime soon. 

"During this time, MS will help in the transition. For all you know, he could be part of the 15 but not part of the 11. This team needs a guiding hand on multiple fronts and wishing MS away is clearly unhealthy,” he said.

“He’s already proved himself to be the kind of guy who preferred ‘why’ more than ‘when’ where his career graph is concerned. He’ll go, but what’s the hurry?,” he added.

The selectors are also set to have been impressed by the work of Pant, who will turn 23 by the time the 2020 World T20 starts, and the youngster is all set to be given a time frame as long as one year to complete his transition. 

"Pant will be 22 this October. There’s a World T20 scheduled in Australia by the time he turns 23. He’s shown the right potential and also has some work to do. A year is a good time to undergo that transition," the source said. 

As the Twitter handle of the Chennai Super Kings confirmed that Dhoni will indeed play for them next season, sources within the IPL fraternity believe that the former Indian skipper will also need to ensure a smooth transition in CSK, with him being the backbone of the team. Despite being 38-years-old, it does look like Dhoni will take a year before calling it quits. 

“MS can’t just walk away like that. The Super Kings ride on him and he’s the franchise’s backbone. Not just the Indian team, he has to oversee a transition there too. After all, it’s been more than a decade-long association with them,” sources within the IPL fraternity told Times of India.

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