The news of former Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni bidding goodbye to his illustrious cricketing career has surfaced multiple times on the internet. The wicket-keeper batsman took a sabbatical after he last defended India against New Zealand in 2019 Cricket World Cup in England. Mahi took an indefinite sabbatical from cricket after the World Cup semi-final exit to serve with the paramilitary regiment. Amidst the news of his ouster, a senior BCCI official has earlier said that Dhoni wasn’t retiring from cricket ‘right now’.
MS Dhoni spending time with our Jawans at Army Hospital few days back.!💙#MSDhoni #ThankYouDhoni pic.twitter.com/QC0ZDFcF5z
— Ganesh K Gunaga (@GaneshJaiHind) January 16, 2020
However, BCCI’s announcement confirming that Mahi had been left out of from all four categories has fuelled the fire again, reported News18. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday announced the annual player contracts for team India (Senior Men) for the period from October 2019 to September 2020.
The BCCI announces the Annual Player Contracts for Team India (Senior Men) for the period from October 2019 to September 2020.
Saini, Mayank, Shreyas, Washington and Deepak Chahar get annual player contracts.
More details here – https://t.co/84iIn1vs9B #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/S6ZPq7FBt1
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 16, 2020
But Dhoni’s name was nowhere to be seen on the contract. This made his fans anxious who soon took to social media paying their tribute to one of the most iconic Indian cricketers. Soon #ThankYouDhoni started trending online.
You can't even expect this type of end 😭#ThankYouDhoni #DhoniWeNeedYou pic.twitter.com/NY8ZAohNZv
— It_zz_ain7 (@ShekhZaid1) January 17, 2020
https://twitter.com/Madhu21103/status/1218021896941211648
So his career ended the same way it started. Poetic.
MS Dhoni (2004-2019)#ThankyouDhoni @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/YW0bfFRvJh
— आह्म ब्रह्मास्मि (@aahmm_brahmasmI) January 17, 2020
I respect him for his dedication, admire him for his struggle & love him for his play. From ticket collector to the captain of team India, it's never an easy journey.
Thank U for giving us moments of joy & making this country proud
Is this the end of an era ????#ThankYouDhoni pic.twitter.com/uqnV6312Ek
— Hemant Kumar (@jangidhemant33) January 17, 2020
Thank you Dhoni Nobody Can Match Your Skills 😢
End Of An Era..#ThankYouDhoni pic.twitter.com/BiRM98iM1x— arshad (@arshad2399) January 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/_Shivam_Pathak_/status/1217737920334839808
#ThankYouDhoni for all your contribution towards the nation!! pic.twitter.com/8ZXTh96lSk
— Birju Kelawala (@birjukelawala) January 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/arrya19661275/status/1217745155073155072
So this was the last time we saw the Legend in an action????????#thankyoudhoni pic.twitter.com/SoqVUWcAKG
— anjan (@AnjanKadakia) January 16, 2020
Can't even expect this type of end 😭💔. you also want him to say goodbye like this.. 😞#ThankYouDhoni https://t.co/OHqKpUaQue
— Brindaban Turbanator🇮🇳 (@brindaban681022) January 16, 2020
However, Dhoni being excluded from BCCI’s contract doesn’t mean that he’s bidding adieu to his cricketing career. As reported earlier, Dhoni might play the next ICC World Twenty20. According to a senior BCCI official:
“He (MS Dhoni) is preparing himself for the World T20 scheduled in Australia from October 18 to November 15 in 2020.”
Sources further revealed that he will also participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. FYI, no official announcement has been made yet regarding Dhoni’s retirement by team management or BCCI or the cricketer himself.
Even India coach Ravi Shastri said to CNN News18 that Dhoni might still play the T20 World Cup later this year if he had a good IPL season. “I have had a conversation with MS and that is between us.”
“He has finished his Test career, he may soon end his ODI career. So he will be left with T20, he will definitely play the IPL.”
“One thing I know about Dhoni is that he will not impose himself on the team. But if he has a cracking IPL and If Dhoni plays well in IPL then he does put himself in contention,” Shastri added.
Now we must wait for the helicopter shot expert to break his silence on the issue and reveal whether or not he has decided to move to the other side of the stands.