MS Dhoni Will Certainly Play the 2019 World Cup - Carl Hooper

The former Windies captain, Carl Hooper opines MS Dhoni would play the 2019 World Cup in England. Meanwhile, on Friday, the BCCI had overlooked Dhoni for Windies, Australia T20Is raising questions over his potential retirement. However, Hooper says he isn’t sure about MS’ T20I career, but the former India captain would get picked for the mega event.

MS would certainly play 2019 World Cup – Carl

With the 2019 World Cup nearly six months away, the Indian team would be keen to get their best XI sorted. Meanwhile, with the reports emerging about MS Dhoni getting dropped and not rested for the T20Is, the sword would be roaming around his neck over his ODI future as well.

However, Hooper thinks with MS Dhoni’s vast experience in the 50-over format, he would be valuable to India’s chances in England. The former right-hander further added he had watched Virat Kohli consulting MS in the past which makes his case for the 2019 World Cup more prominent.

“I don’t know about him in T20s, but certainly in World Cup, he will be selected. He has played more than 300 ODIs for India, his experience will be valuable. I have seen Virat actually consult him on a number of occasions. I actually see him being selected for 50 overs format.”

Moreover, Hooper thinks MSK Prasad-led selection panel would speak to MS Dhoni about his future. Though MS got dropped from the T20Is, he can still be an asset in the ODI cricket. Furthermore, the ex-Windies captain said to let go of someone who had shouldered the burden of captaincy and expectations would be disappointing.

MS Dhoni should retire on his terms

“I am sure the selectors would speak to Dhoni and would indicate which direction they wanted to go in. He has served India well for a long time and is a former captain, so he deserves this much,”

“Dhoni will be disappointed to have been dropped (from the T20s) but I am sure that the team has communicated with him well (about the road ahead). He still has the World Cup to look forward to,”

Concluding his thoughts, Carl Hooper said MS Dhoni should be given the freedom to hang his boots on his term.

“You have to stop somewhere. But stopping is not the issue. The issue is you stop on your terms and (to ensure) that the selectors have communicated,”