Mumbai: Amid the rumours of Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s retirement, a report has come out stating that the veteran has extended his break to make himself unavailable for selection till November.
Previously in August, the 37-year-old cricketer had made himself unavailable for the tour of West Indies to serve the paramilitary regiment in Kashmir.
Following the series versus West Indies, the BCCI announced the team for the home series versus South Africa, and prior to BCCI’s announcement, Dhoni made himself unavailable for selection as he went on a family vacation to US.
Recently, a report has been doing rounds, stating that the former Indian cricketer had made himself unavailable for selection. If the report turns out to true, the Indian cricketer is expected to miss the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the T20I home series against Bangladesh.
This would also mean that Dhoni would be available to play in December, when the West Indies team tours the home side for a T20I and ODI series. The series is slated to begin on December 6.
Dhoni was last seen wearing the blue jersey when India lost to New Zealand in the semi-final of the 2019 ODI World Cup, on July 10.
The report comes at a time when there has been an ever-growing speculation over the 37-year-old's future in the team, especially after the team management is grooming 21-year-old Rishabh Pant as his replacement for the role of Wicket-keeper batsman ahead of next year's World T20.
Recently, Virat Kohli tweeted a picture of him and Dhoni during a match along with a caption stating: "A game I can never forget. Special night. This man, made me run like in a fitness test." Following Kohli’s tweet, reports came out stating that Dhoni is mulling to retire anytime soon.
Ahead of the first T20I versus South Africa, Virat Kohli was asked what made him tweet that picture. To the same question, Kohli stated, “I was sitting at home and I normally put out a photograph and it became a news item. I think it was a lesson for me, that the way I think, the whole world does not think that way. There was nothing in the farthest stretch of my imagination (that it could be taken as retirement tribute) while putting that picture out on social media."
