Exclusive: MS Dhoni's Return To Team India Would've Been Easy Had IPL 2020 Taken Place - Lalchand Rajput

The cricket manager of the Indian team during its’ 2007 T20 World Cup triumph, Lalchand Rajput has stated that MS Dhoni’s return to the Indian team would have been smoother if IPL 2020 would have taken place. Dhoni was last seen in the Indian colours in the semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Unfortunately, India lost the game to New Zealand and were eliminated from the competition. Since then, Dhoni has been away from the Indian team.

His return was much anticipated with the return of IPL 2020 this year as he was back to the field sweating it hard for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, the BCCI had to postpone the tournament indefinitely due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. And, this has again given way to speculations on Dhoni’s future with Team India.

Now, Lalchand Rajput has also opined on MS Dhoni’s current situation and said that IPL 2020 would have smoothened his way into the Indian team.

Lalchand Rajput Opens Up On MS Dhoni’s Return To Team India

Speaking exclusively to CricketAddictor.com, Lalchand Rajput said, “You cannot count anything out till the matches are there because the T20 World Cup is in doubt itself. People always talk about MS that he has not played international cricket for a long time, but I still feel he’s a great cricketer, he has got something to offer.”

“But IPL was a very important tournament for him because in IPL if he plays 14 games and does well, then T20 is the same format and we can be assured of his excellence. If IPL is played before the T20 World Cup, I am sure he will get back into the team. But if IPL is not played, it will be difficult for him because he has not played any form of cricket,” Lalchand Rajput added.

“Again, it depends upon the captain and the coach whether they would still like to pick him because he is still the best finisher, we can bank on him. He is super fit, his running between the wickets is tremendous. Yes, he has become a bit older and has got grey hair, he is still super fit,” Rajput further said.

Former Cricketers Divided On MS Dhoni’s Return To Team India

Recently, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star batsman Suresh Raina said MS Dhoni did not show any signs of ageing and that he was hitting the big sixes at will, as usual during the training camp in Chennai. Laxmipathy Balaji, the bowling coach of Chennai Super Kings, also vouched for MS Dhoni’s return.

On the other hand, former wicketkeeper-batsman, Deep Dasgupta had said that MS Dhoni should have kept playing domestic cricket if he aspired a return to the Indian team. Kris Srikkanth also noted that if the IPL does not take place, Dhoni’s return looks impossible. Gautam Gambhir and Ashish Nehra also had similar views to those of Srikkanth.

Also Read: Exclusive: Virat Kohli Is The Only Batsman In World Cricket Who Can Break Sachin Tendulkar’s Records – Lalchand Rajput