New Delhi:
MS Dhoni has not played a match for the Indian cricket team ever since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 semi-final loss against New Zealand. In this period, there have been plenty of false alarms on whether Dhoni will play another game for India or whether he will announce his retirement. However, the real reason has now been revealed. According to an Indian Express report, Dhoni is injured and he is carrying some injuries which requires sometime off. BCCI sources told Indian Express that Dhoni will be available for selection in November and that could mean mostly for the Bangladesh series.
The amount of injuries Dhoni is carrying is worrisome. In the past one year, the former India cricket team skipper has been carrying a back injury as well as a wrist injury. In the 2019 edition of the IPL, Dhoni missed four games for Chennai Super Kings as he was plagued by a back injury which required management in order to be fit for the World Cup. During the tournamet, it was aggravated and in the semi-final, with India requiring 25 off 11 balls, Dhoni was hit on the wrist by a Lockie Ferguson delivery and in the process of taking two runs was run-out.
Also Read | MS Dhoni Cares About Indian Cricket And Is On Same Page With Us: Virat Kohli
Dhoni was in visible pain and the wrist injury, along with the back pain is apparently one of the reasons why he has been sidelined. Dhoni did not make himself available for the West Indies series and also for the three-match Twenty20 International series which India drew 1-1 against South Africa. There are reports that Dhoni might not make himself available for selection for the Bangladesh series as well.
Also Read | Opinion - Media's Obsession Of Speculating MS Dhoni's Retirement Is Like The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Following the end of the World Cup, Dhoni had a two-week stint with the Para Regiment of the Indian Army in Kashmir as he was an honorary Lieutenant Colonel. Following the end of the stint, he went to the United States of America on holiday. However, India skipper Virat Kohli has said Dhoni still remains one of the most valued members of the team.
Kohli outlined the value of Dhoni in the current Indian set-up and remarked that he remains valuable in the broader scheme of things.
"One great thing about him (Dhoni) is that, he thinks for Indian cricket. And whatever we (team management) think, he is on the same page. The alignment is there. The kind of mindset he has had about grooming youngsters and giving them opportunities, and he is still the same person. Experience is always going to matter whether you like it or not. I mean there are a numerous number of times people have given up on sportsmen and they have proved people wrong and he (Dhoni) has done that many times in his career as well. As long as he is available and continues to play, he is going to be very valuable," Kohli said.
