Sydney: India’s ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Thursday left open the possibility of playing in the 2019 World Cup in England, saying that he would take a call after the Twenty20 World Cup next year.
Dhoni, who retired from Test cricket late last year, said that he is 33 now and will wait till the T20 World Cup, to be held in India in March.
The wicketkeeper-batsman’s future has been a subject of speculation after his Test retirement and he has also spoken of the toll his body has taken by playing non-stop cricket.
“I am 33, I’m still running and I am still fit. Next year (at the World T20) will be the right time to decide if I should play World Cup 2019,” Dhoni said in the post-match presentation.
Rated among the best finishers in ODI cricket right now for pulling off difficult run chases.
Dhoni has been India’s most successful skipper, having led the side to two World Cup titles (the 2007 World T20 and the 2011 ODI World Cup).
At the post match press conference, Dhoni gave ample indication that he is not calling it quits from the shorter formats of the game any time soon, stating that media can continue speculating about his possible swansong from international cricket.
Questioned about his future in the post-match press conference after the crushing 95-run loss to Australia in the World Cup semifinals, Dhoni laughed off the query.
“You guys should carry out a research and then write the complete opposite because that would be the truth. I play for the enjoyment of the game and the day I decide to go, I will pack my bags and happily go away,” he said with a grin.
Dhoni has played 262 ODIs, scoring 8299 runs at an impressive average of 52.46.
Security beefed up at Dhoni’s Ranchi residence
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up at captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s residence after India’s exit from the cricket World Cup after their 95-run loss to Australia in the semi-final in Sydney on Thursday.
City’s Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar said that taking unruly fan behaviour after the team’s loss in the final-four stage into consideration, security has been stepped up in and around Dhoni’s residence.
Prabhat informed that Ranchi police does guard Dhoni’s house round the year but more force was deployed during high-profile matches and big tournament’s like the World Cup.
A Dhoni fan, who had come all the way from Kolkata, said, “I had come down with my friends to celebrate an Indian win in front of Dhoni’s house but disappointingly that did not happen.”
Another fan of ‘Captain Cool’ said, “It was not Dhoni’s fault today. When players like Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan and Ravindra Jadeja didn’t perform then what could have Dhoni done alone.” (PTI)
