Ashish Nehra passes verdict on MS Dhoni’s international career

Ashish Nehra passes verdict on MS Dhoni’s international career: Former India and CSK pacer was vocal about the legendary captain’s international career.

Former India fast bowler Ashish Nehra has become the latest personality to open up regarding his views on veteran India wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s international career.

Dhoni, who last played for India during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, missed the West Indies tour (and all subsequent series) last year due to his training for the parachute regiment of the Indian Army in Kashmir valley.

Dhoni was subsequently in the news in January when his name wasn’t to be found in the list of annually contracted Indian players. It was widely anticipated that a stellar IPL season might open doors for Dhoni’s international comeback keeping eyes on the ICC T20 World Cup 2020.

However, with IPL 2020 getting postponed indefinitely, the status of Dhoni’s international comeback (if any) has become all the more complicated.

Ashish Nehra passes verdict on MS Dhoni’s international career

In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Nehra mentioned that 38-year old Dhoni still remains his best choice for the wicket-keeper’s slot in limited-overs formats. However, he also thinks that Dhoni won’t play for India again.

“Look, if MS [Dhoni] wants to play and is fit, he is still my No. 1 choice for the wicketkeeper’s slot. Knowing MS, I don’t think he will play again for India, but you never know he can still spring another surprise. Yes, that he has not announced his retirement is a different issue. But that’s his way of dealing with the situation,” Nehra was quoted as saying.

Nehra, who has played 64 limited-over matches for India under Dhoni, made his T20I comeback after doing well for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. In the 20 matches that Nehra played for CSK in 2014 and 2015, he picked 30 wickets at an average of 19.70, an economy rate of 7.68 and a strike rate of 15.40.

In 19 T20Is post international comeback after five years in 2016, Nehra picked 21 wickets at an average of 23.04, an economy rate of 7.22 and a strike rate of 19.1.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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