Joginder Sharma Reveals Why MS Dhoni Didn't Play After 2019 World Cup

Updated - 07 Jan 2020, 03:30 PM

MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni (Credits: Twitter)

Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was last seen on the field during the team’s semi-final against New Zealand. Ever since the team’s heartbreaking exit from the marquee event in England in July, he didn’t play for the team again and made himself unavailable for the team selection.

The 38-year-old veteran took a sabbatical from international cricket to join Indian army regiment where he spent some quality time with the army jawans. The World Cup-winning India captain MS Dhoni was also spotted in the dressing room after Virat Kohli and Co registered 202-run innings victory over South Africa in the third Test in Dhoni’s hometown Ranchi.

MS Dhoni. (Credits: Twitter).

After that, he was again spotted training with Jharkhand’s under-23 team in Ranchi some days ago. This triggered good signs of him making a possible comeback to cricket but that didn’t happen. The experienced campaigner missed out on touring West Indies with the Indian team including the home assignment against South Africa, Bangladesh and West Indies.

When Dhoni was asked about his future, he clearly told that “Don’t ask me till January.” Even the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly earlier told that champions like MS Dhoni don’t finish quickly.

MS Dhoni could be preparing himself in a different way: Joginder Sharma

Meanwhile, former professional Indian cricketer Joginder Sharma revealed the reason behind MS Dhoni not playing for India after the World Cup in England. “Dhoni is very strong, both physically and mentally. There must be a lot of reasons behind the decision (to not play after the 2019 World Cup) he has taken. He has a family, a personal life, maybe he is himself in a different way,” Joginder Sharma said at the sidelines of the Ekamra Sports Literature festive here last December according to TOI.

Joginder Sharma at ICC World T20 2007. Credits: NDTV

Joginder Sharma’s close connection with MS Dhoni extends to the lucrative IPL too as he played for Chennai Super Kings. He spiced it up in 16 matches for CSK before a career-threatening head injury in a car accident in 2011 that almost ended his cricket career. But he made a stellar comeback for his state team in the 2012-13 season and then played in the domestic circuit over the next few years.

“Until 2017 I was playing for Haryana. After that, I continued my job with the police and am doing it regularly now. For that reason, I am a little away from cricket at the moment. But it remains my passion, to give back to the game in whatever way I can. Playing again is tough but I will come back to do something in cricket,” Joginder concluded.

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India National Cricket Team Joginder Sharma MS Dhoni