Former India captain MS Dhoni, who was left out of BCCI’s annual players’ contract, is not retiring till IPL 2020 and is expected to make himself available for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.
Dhoni has not played for team India after the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in July last year.
According to BCCI sources since Dhoni hadn’t played in the last six months and there is a lack of clarity over his international future he was not included in the list.
“His absence from international cricket in the last six months made him ineligible for the central contract. But that doesn’t mean he will not be considered for selection in the future,” the sources added.
“Dhoni’s absence from the central contracts has nothing to do with his future in the Indian team as he can still play for the Men in Blue,” reported Times of India.
It was also confirmed that he will play the IPL 2020 and that he is not hanging the boots till then.
“If Dhoni makes himself available for the WCT20, then his IPL performance will be thoroughly scrutinised by the selectors,” sources added.
If Dhoni doesn’t play for team India in the future, then he will have one of the rarest records to his name i.e. he will become the only Indian player to have run-out in his career’s first and last one-day international.
A long-haired Dhoni made his debut against Bangladesh in 2004/05 and was run out for a duck in his first match.
In the semi-final against New Zealand, Dhoni scored a fighting 50 and was run out by Martin Guptill.
India lost the match by 18 runs.