Tendulkar Reckons Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the Best Person to Decide When He Wants to Call it Quits
Published - 22 Jul 2018, 05:01 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:53 PM
The recent performance of former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has come under heavy criticism. He failed to make a substantial contribution in the limited-overs series against England.
India was chasing 323 to win the second One-day Internation at Lord’s. Well, they were under a bit of trouble when Dhoni came into the bat. The required rate was around eight at that time. However, by the time he left, the required rate was almost doubled.
The 37-year-old Dhoni scored 37 off 59 deliveries and followed it up with another below-par innings in the final ODI at Headingley. He ended up scoring 42 off 66 deliveries as India suffered a 2-1 series defeat.
It was after the conclusion of the final ODI, Dhoni collected the match ball from the on-field umpire Michael Gough which led to speculations of his retirement.
However, the rumours were quashed by Ravi Shastri. Another legend Sachin Tendulkar also opened up on Dhoni’s retirement. He stated that it is up to Dhoni to decide when he would like to announce his retirement.
“The player only has to take the call. A player of his calibre, who has been around for a long time, knows what is expected of him. And where he stands. So, I will leave the decision to him,” Tendulkar was quoted as saying by the Mumbai Mirror.
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Sachin Tendulkar backs Dhoni:
“He has played enough cricket and he understands his game better than anyone else. He understands his own mindset too. So, I think one should leave everything to him. Being a colleague of him, I know of him and I think he is the best person to decide on his career,” Tendulkar added.
The Little Master Tendulkar had faced a similar sort of a situation during his career. He was under pressure to score runs and eventually called it quits from international cricket way back in 2013.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni stepped down from the captaincy of the Indian team a year and-a-half-back. Since then he has always been under pressure to perform.
However, the chairman of selectors, MSK Prasad a few months ago stated that Dhoni still doesn’t have a competition in the limited-overs format.
In all likelihood, Dhoni will be part of the Indian team in the 2019 World Cup.
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