MS Dhoni begins training but unlikely to feature in West Indies series
Indian wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni has started practising at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi but will not be available for the three-match ODI and T20I series against West Indies in December. Dhoni has not played a competitive match since India's semifinal loss to New Zealand in the World Cup.
Dhoni has erased speculations about his retirement by beginning training after a long period of lay-off post the World Cup due to military duties and other personal reasons. Chief selector MSK Prasad had clearly mentioned in the press conference while announcing the Indian squad for Bangladesh series that they have moved on from Dhoni post the World Cup and are looking to give chances to youngsters like Rishabh Pant to make them perform consistently for the team.
But with Prasad set to be replaced and Pant making a meal of the chances that he is being given, MS Dhoni might be in contention for a place in India's white-ball side again with T20 World Cup in a year's time. Also, the consistent performances of Sanju Samson mean that Dhoni has another competitor to make it to the Indian squad as a keeper-batsman.
West Indies will tour India for a three-match ODI and T20I series which begins on December 6 in Mumbai but Dhoni will not be in contention for a place in that squad.
"He is not available for the West Indies series," a BCCIÂ official told TOI.
Pant and Samson are likely to get selected again as the keepers in the squad and Samson will look to pounce on any opportunity that comes his way, especially with Pant's poor form becoming a growing concern for the Indian team management. Dhoni was set to commentate for India's first-ever pink-ball Test in Kolkata but was not given permission to do so since he is still a player contracted to BCCI and commentating in the game will subject to conflict of interest.
It will be interesting to see the developments in Indian cricket especially with the management keen to form a core for the T20 World Cup Down Under.