XtraTime Web Desk: Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin wants selectors to pick MS Dhoni back into the national team only after assessing his match fitness. Dhoni has been out of competitive cricket since the 2019 World Cup semi-final clash against New Zealand in Manchester.
According to Azhar, “Definitely, the selectors will look at the performance because playing after a long gap is not that easy, match practice is really important and it does not matter how big a player you are, you have to play some matches. Practising and playing matches are two different things.”
The wicket-keeper batsman was eyeing a return into cricket in the Indian Premier League but the postponement of the league due to COVID-19 pandemic has jeopardized such a plan.
The stylish Hyderabadi batsman reckons making an international comeback after such a long gap will not be easy.
“Practising and playing matches are two different things,” said Azhar to news agency ANI.
If the IPL2020 does not take place this season, then the selectors will have no other option but to pick the T20World Cup squad depending upon the previous performances.
“Dhoni can explain better than me about what he wants and it will be his personal decision. See as of now, the situation is not good and that is why IPL is not taking place and I feel it will take some time to get things sorted but for Dhoni, it is his personal decision,” said Azhar.
The 2020 edition of the IPL has been postponed until further notice by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) due to the coronavirus crisis in the country.