Playing For India, You Should Not Be Picking And Choosing Series: Gambhir on Dhoni

"I have always maintained this one thing. Retirement is an individual call, I think for me selectors should talk to him and ask him about his future plan. Gambhir told reporters

Former Indian skipper Gautam Gambhir on Thursday asked the Indian selectors to have a chat with wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni over his future plan. Dhoni who last featured for India in the 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, has not donned the jersey for the 'Men in Blue' he has missed series against Windies and South Africa. The wicket-keeper batsman was under the scanner for being a tad slow in rotating the strike during the Cricket World Cup in the United Kingdom.

"I have always maintained this one thing. Retirement is an individual call, I think for me selectors should talk to him and ask him about his future plan. Ultimately for me, playing for India, you should not be picking and choosing series," Gambhir told reporters.

Wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant who is battling severe criticism for his poor show in the series against South Africa got the backing of Gambhir. Pant managed to score just 23 runs in two T20Is against Proteas, however, Gambhir said that the player should be given time as Pant is just 21. "There is too much attention that is being given to a new player. He is just 21, he has played for last two and a half years. He has got two hundreds in Test cricket. We should not be comparing him with anyone, the team management should be backing him in the right way. He is still young and he has got a long future ahead," Gambhir said. "Team management should talk to Pant. Not just Kohli, Ravi Shastri should also speak to him. Pant should be given freedom, if you curb him, he won't play to his potential. You have to accept that Pant will not always get his shot selection right. On his day, he can win you a game," he added.