Dhoni Ruled Out Retirement, Keeping In Mind World T-20 Next Year: Reports

Chief Selector MSK Prasad confirmed that the selection committee is looking at giving more opportunities to Rishabh Pant across all three formats

India former captain MS Dhoni has not announced his retirement amid widespread speculations but has made himself unavailable for the next two months as he will be serving his regiment in the territorial army. Without divulging much on two-time World Cup winning captain's future plans, Prasad said that "a legend like Dhoni knows when to retire but the future course of Indian cricket will be charted by the selectors." According to Times of India, chief selector MSK Prasad had a "discussion" with Dhoni about his retirement. Dhoni ruled out retiring for now, keeping in mind the World T20 next year but it was been made clear to him that he is no longer in the scheme of things anymore as the BCCI will be stressing on 'grooming' the young players for future. Speaking at the Press Conference in Mumbai, Prasad confirmed that the selection committee is looking at giving more opportunities to Rishabh Pant across all three formats. "He [MS Dhoni] is unavailable for this series. he has expressed his unavailability. Having said that, we had certain road maps till the World Cup. Subsequently, post the World Cup, we have laid down few more plans. We thought of giving as many opportunities to Rishabh Pant to see he is groomed. That's our plan right now," MSK Prasad told the press in Mumbai. The selection committee chairman added: "We did discuss with him [Dhoni's future]. "Retirement is purely individual. A legendary cricketer like MS Dhoni... he knows when to retire. But as far as the future roadmap is considered, that is in the hands of the selectors." BCCI had recently confirmed that Dhoni had requested for a 2-month break as he wanted to join the para regiment. "We would like to clarify three things. MS Dhoni is not retiring from cricket right now. He is taking a two month sabbatical to serve his paramilitary regiment which he had committed much earlier. We have now intimated his decision to skipper Virat Kohli and chairman of selectors MSK Prasad," a senior BCCI official told PTI on Saturday.