If MS Dhoni Wants To Play For India, He Will Play: Umesh Yadav

MS Dhoni, former Indian World Cup-winning captain, and one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman to have ever played this beautiful game is yet to play a competitive match since July last year.

Dhoni’s last outing for the Men in Blue came in that heartbreaking 2019 World Cup semi-final where he was run-out courtesy a sensation piece of fielding by Martin Guptill. A dejected MS Dhoni trudged off the field as India’s dream to regain the World Cup came to an agonizing end.

Since that evening of July 10, Dhoni has been on sabbatical. He was expected to make a comeback to competitive cricket with the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League and the cash-rich league was being seen as the launchpad to his potential Indian comeback for the T20 World Cup.

Umesh Yadav recently opened up on the MS Dhoni conundrum during an Instagram Live session with Sportskeeda. Yadav was asked to select his ideal Indian XI for the T20 World Cup and the fast bowler went on to name his former captain MS Dhoni as the first-choice keeper, stating that if the former Indian skipper wants to make a comeback then he will.

Yadav picked Rishabh Pant as the backup keeper to MSD.

“My T20 XI would have Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer as the batsmen. Then, you have MS Dhoni bhai. Abhi kya bol sakte hai, unki marzi rahegi toh wo khelenge [We can’t say anything now. If MS Dhoni wants to play for India, he will play]. If MS Dhoni bhai does not play, then Rishabh Pant,” Umesh Yadav was quoted as saying in an Instagram Live with Sportskeeda.

Also Read: MS Dhoni Has Trusted Me More Than West Indies Cricket Board: Dwayne Bravo

Umesh Yadav ruled himself out of contention from the T20 World Cup Squad

Coming back to Yadav’s T20 XI, the Vidarbha Express ruled himself out of contention and picked Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as the two pacers. He also added that there will be a stiff competition for the third pacers slot between Mohammed Shami and Deepak Chahar.

“As for the spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. Bumrah and Bhuvi will be the fast bowlers and it will be a tough fight for the third spot between Shami and Deepak Chahar. I don’t think I am in contention for that spot,” Umesh Yadav added.

Meanwhile, the scheduling of the T20 World Cup is itself in jeopardy thanks to COVID-19 and if the tournament does go ahead, it will be interesting to see if MS Dhoni manages to make a comeback to the Indian team.

Also Read: MS Dhoni Is A True Leader, Says Mohit Sharma