I Think MS Dhoni Has Played His Last Game For India: Ashish Nehra

Former Indian captain MS Dhoni’s international future has been a burning question for more than a year now. Several former and current cricketers have revealed very contrasting opinions on it; however, MS Dhoni himself has maintained silence about it. Former Indian speedster Ashish Nehra is the latest to weigh on the same.

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Following his last international game in July 2019 against New Zealand, MS Dhoni took a sabbatical from competitive cricket and joined the army briefly. He trained in between but did not make himself available for any of the international matches. However, his performances in the upcoming season of the IPL can be an indication of his international comeback.

According to Ashish Nehra, the 13th edition of the IPL has nothing to do with his international future. Nehra said that no matter what the person is if he is a selector, coach or captain, MS Dhoni is the first player on their list. He is indispensable. The 39-year old will return to lead the Chennai Super Kings, who have won the tournament thrice under him.

“As far as MS Dhoni’s international carrier I don’t think this IPL has anything to do with it. If you’re a selector, you’re a captain, you’re a coach and MS Dhoni the most important thing if he is ready to play like he will be my number one name on the list,” Nehra said in the Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected.

Ashish Nehra opines that the game against New Zealand was perhaps his last international fixture and that he has nothing left to prove. The former left-arm seamer conceded that only the keeper-batsman would understand what is on his mind and he might take the retirement call shortly.

“As much as I know MS Dhoni, I think he has played his last game for India happily. MS Dhoni has nothing to prove. And we all discuss these things as media people you can say and everybody because he has not announced his retirement, so that’s where maybe I think he will take a call and only he can tell what’s in his mind,” he stated.

For me, MS Dhoni’s game never came down: Ashish Nehra

The 41-year old further said that the Jharkhand cricketer’s game was never on the decline. He recollected his final international match when India remained in the hunt for the final’s spot till the time he stayed on the crease. He scored a battling fifty before a run out from Martin Guptill removed him, dashing India’s hopes of making to the final.

“For me, MS Dhoni’s game never came down. We have discussed this earlier as well, that in the last game that he played, India had hope to reach the World Cup final till the time MS Dhoni was there and the minute he got run out everybody lost hope,” the Delhi-born bowler added.

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