Published 17:42 IST, September 12th 2019
MS Dhoni to retire? Amid mass speculation, selector MSK Prasad speaks
Chief selector of Team India MSK Prasad rubbished rumours of former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's retirement and said that the rumours were baseless.
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Chief selector of Team India MSK Prasad rubbished rumours of former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's retirement and said that the rumours were baseless. Addressing the press as he named India's Test squad for three matches against South Africa, MSK Prasad said that he was surprised by the news of Dhoni going to announce his retirement doing rounds on the internet and said that he had no idea where the news came from. Ever since India's exit from the World Cup after failing to beat New Zealand in the semi-finals, speculations of MS Dhoni's retirement have been rife. Although the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman recused himself from the tour of West Indies to serve the Territorial Army, fans are eagerly waiting to see the World Cup-winning captain return to the field.
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MSK Prasad rubbishes rumours of MS Dhoni's retirement
Earlier in the day, India skipper Virat Kohli shared a picture of MS Dhoni and himself during a match in 2016, fuelling speculations of MS Dhoni possibly announcing his retirement. However, chief selector MSK Prasad said that the BCCI was unaware of any such plans and that he was surprised that the news was doing rounds. Even as MS Dhoni faced a lot of flak and was accused for 'lack of intent' during the World Cup, MSK Prasad threw his weight behind Dhoni and assured the world that the former skipper knew what he was doing. The cricketer-turned-selector still believes that MS Dhoni is a force to reckon with in the shorter formats for India with his outstanding abilities behind the stumps and his finishing abilities with the bat. Prasad also had earlier said that the 2011 World Cup-winning skipper was a big strength to the team in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 who apart from being a batsman and a keeper also shared his vast experience with the team and captain Virat Kohli while taking on-field decisions.
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Virat Kohli turns the clock back, shares picture of epic run chase
The Indian skipper took to the micro-blogging website to share a picture of a moment of MS Dhoni and himself after India's successful run-chase against Australia in the World T20 semi-final The picture, etched forever in the hearts of the Indian fans, is that of Virat Kohli kneeling on the ground, exhausted as MS Dhoni scores the winning runs with a typical MSD finish, a boundary. Australia had set a target of 161 runs for the Men in Blue to chase in order to make it to the finals. Virat Kohli scored a magnificent knock of 82 runs to steer India home to victory. However, the run-chase went down the wire and it was none other than Captain Cool MS Dhoni who was there to finish the match off with Virat Kohli. Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni went on to put up a fifth-wicket partnership of 50 runs which came off 26 balls but it involved an incredible running between the field by both the batsman. MS Dhoni had pushed Virat Kohli at every possible moment to make a run or convert it into a double. As a result, at the end of the successful run-chase that saw India go on to the finals, Virat Kohli was kneeling on the ground, exhausted, as MS Dhoni hit the winning runs and watched on as the ball sailed to the boundary. 'A special night. A game to never forget. This man made me run like a fitness machine', wrote Virat Kohli on the micro-blogging website.
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17:01 IST, September 12th 2019