Vijay Hazare Trophy: MS Dhoni puts National selectors in the spot after turning down opportunity to play for Jharkhand

Just a couple of days back, chief selector MSK Prasad, had announced India's ODI squad for the first two ODIs which included MS Dhoni.

MK Prasad had also confirmed that the talismanic wicket-keeper batsman would feature for Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy quarterfinals before meeting up with the Indian squad. However, in the wake of recent events, the national selection committee were left deeply embarrassed after Mahi opted out of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

The current fiasco now completely established that there is no communication between the selectors and senior players, who decide their own schedule. Though, MS Dhoni chose not to play for Jharkhand citing that he didn't want to affect the team's rhythm ahead of the quarterfinal against Mumbai which will be played in Bengaluru on October 15.

Jharkhand has been in exceptional form at this year's Vijay Hazare Trophy, winning seven out the nine matches played and topping their group with 32 points. However, Dhoni could have used this domestic fixture to shrug off his poor form with the bat.

Jharkhand's chief coach Rajiv Kumar told reporters in Bengaluru stating why Dhoni turned down the offer to play for Jharkhand, stating how the former Indian skipper thought it was 'unfair' to be joining the team midway through the tournament.

“Dhoni feels that it would not be fair for him to join us at this stage, given that the team has done so well and reached the quarter-final stage in his absence. He does not want to upset the team balance,” Jharkhand coach Kumar said.

There are now questions being raised whether Prasad had even consulted Dhoni in the first place before making a public announcement. “I would love to know how MSK Prasad gets in touch with Dhoni,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on Saturday. “Last heard, even VVS Laxman didn’t get a chance to speak to Dhoni before announcing his retirement. Hope he is telling the truth,” he laughed off.

However, the list of unanswered questions goes on - Did Mk Prasad's colleague Devang Gandhi convey the decision of the Test exclusion to Karun Nair and Murali Vijay? Did the selection committee verify if Shardul Thakur had fully recovered from a groin injury sustained during the Asia Cup?

(PTI Inputs)