MS Dhoni retirement: Former chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar suggests present selectors on how to deal with Dhoni and his selection dilemma
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Ever since India’s semi-final exit from the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, the discussions, debates, speculations, conjectures and everything associated even with his post retirement plans have become one of the burning issues across the Indian Cricket fraternity.
And what’s more amusing is the fact that there has not been any intimation from the man himself on the aforementioned issue. Also, as per a recent report from The Times of India, Dhoni has made himself unavailable for the tour of West Indies, where the Indian team will take part on three T20Is and three ODIs. Also, he is expected to be a part of the transition phase which will see a new player take up his role.
“MS will not go to the West Indies. Going forward, he will not travel with the team within India or overseas as the first-choice wicket-keeper. Rishabh Pant will take over and there will be a grooming window for him until he settles down,” a BCCI was as quoted by Times of India.
With the team selection to take place on July 19 for India’s upcoming tour of West Indies, all eyes will be on the selection panel led by M.S.K. Prasad as to what decision they take on the veteran wicket-keeper batsman pertaining his inclusion or exclusion from the limited-overs side.
“Pressure will be on the selectors; they’ll have to show courage and conviction”- Dilip Vengsarkar
Former India captain and chief selector, Dilip Vengsarkar, who had faced a similar sort of a dilemma when deciding upon players like Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly post India’s forgetful 2007 World Cup campaign, has come up with a suggestion on the current set of selectors as to how to deal with a player as high as Dhoni’s stature.
When asked by Vengsarkar as to how to deal with such a situation where one also has to keep in mind the place Dhoni holds in the hearts of the Cricketing fraternity, the 63-year-old answered that the selectors will have to exhibit courage and conviction about their decisions.
“Well, you have to have the courage and conviction. “It’s the job of the selectors to review performances and draw the performances and road maps for the future”, said Vengsarkar.
“You need to know who exactly are the players who fit into your Test pool, ODI pool and T20 pool. Track their performance, identify bench strength and create options,” he explained. “It’s also important to keep the think-tank in the loop and seek their suggestions about the road ahead”, he added.
Easier said than done, but the selection panel will have to really come up with a strong decision, in consultation with the man himself and decide the future course of action.
