Twitter In Shock As MS Dhoni Collects Match Ball From Umpire, Raising Retirement Speculations

For a while after India lost the series-decider ODI to England, the result of the game took the back seat.  The reason behind the same was MS Dhoni’s unusual gesture as soon as the third ODI ended.

While the other players were busy in heading towards the dressing room, Dhoni silently walked up to the umpires and asked for the match ball.He had done the same during the 2014 tour of Australia just before shockingly announcing his retirement from Tests.

Not surprisingly, the latest incident caused quite a stir on the social media as the fans are fearing the worse. They took to Twitter to express their views on the incident.

Here are some of the reactions:

Dhoni did this only to shift focus of journos

Ab kiski ko nahi padi ki series haar gaye….Sab lage pade ki Dhoni ne kyu ball li….Masterstroke!!! pic.twitter.com/7RjpLV3rmR

— urstrulyKajal?? (@BanarasiBasanti) July 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/itsumairr/status/1019305679616663552?

I am scared now….it is not the time for DHONI to retire …please Dhoni …stay …
Dont make any announcement …please please …it will be end of my Childhood …

— Abhishek dwivedi (@abhishek_srkfan) July 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/Aditya__17/status/1019308193254596608?

I presume (?) that MS Dhoni taking the ball is just as a memorabilia for the series (and run-out) as no one can predict things after 8-10 months. May be in the run up to #CWC19 he may feel confident to stay or otherwise too, we never know and no one, NO ONE can read his mind. pic.twitter.com/rfhMmAkqji

— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) July 18, 2018

Why did MS Dhoni took the ball from umpire after last ball was bowled in the match at Leeds ?

Surely I don't want another 30 Dec, 2014 scene in limited over too.#Dhoni

— Manish Kumar (@theManishV) July 18, 2018

On a lighter note, MS Dhoni took the ball from the on-field umpire Michael Gough only to see why his aides couldn't inflict pain upon English batters. Having a ball, is not a bad omen at all. Remember, he is coming home. So, sit back & relax. Kohli won't let him retire. #ENGvsIND

— Tahir Ibn Manzoor (@TahirIbnManzoor) July 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/hemantbatra0/status/1019316263988944896

Re: Dhoni oddly taking the match ball and leading to speculations – The only 'official' response so far is "I didn't see that. I don't know"…from Shardul Thakur in the press conference!

— Prakash G (@PrakashG_CB) July 17, 2018

What could be the reason behind this?! ??
.#MSDhoni #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/RBPmjeclvQ

— Dhoni Raina Team (@dhoniraina_team) July 18, 2018

Criticism galore for Dhoni:

The former India skipper is facing widespread criticism for his showing in the recently-concluded ODI series. After a very successful IPL with the bat where he scored 455 runs, expectations were sky high from Dhoni. However, the veteran batsman failed to live up to the expectations.

His ultra-defensive approach in the second and third games have attracted severe criticism. In the second game, he  had walked in at the fall of Virat Kohli’s wicket with India needing 183 in 23 overs. The asking rate was below 8 at that time. But by the time, Dhoni departed, the required run-rate had nearly doubled.  He had scored 37 off 59 balls as India managed only 236 in reply to 323.

Dhoni’s struggles continued in the third game too as he managed to score 42 but used up 66 deliveries for the same. Not only that, Dhoni is also facing criticism for failing to guide India to a good finish despite consuming so many balls early on.

He was the last recognised batsmen at the crease and just when it looked like he would accelerate, he departed in the 46th over. India eventually managed a modest 256 for 8. In reply, England chased down the total with utmost ease to win the series.