XtraTime Web Desk: Former India skipper MS Dhoni declining of playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy quarter-finals for Jharkhand on Sunday sparked controversies as earlier BCCI’s selection committee chief MSK Prasad said that Dhoni would play for his home side.
A lot of people have started saying that it was almost confirmed that Dhoni would play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but what happened then? A close source of the board has disclosed the real story behind this. As per that person it all started during the Asia Cup. In the match against Afghanistan stand in skipper Rohit Sharma decided to take rest and the team management decided to hand the baton to former skipper for one match as it would be his 200th ODI game as captain. But Selector in Chief MSK Prasad wasn’t happy with that decision as because he thought that it would be wrong to going backward before the World Cup which is just seven months away. He wanted another opener Shikhar Dhawan to lead the side in that match but Dhoni was the person who finally went for the toss. Dhoni didn’t like this at all and in this way the Jharkhand maestro showed his anger.
It is known to everyone that Dhoni’s place is confirmed in the side in the forthcoming World Cup and there is no one who can replace him in the squad till the World Cup. In the knock-out stages of the Vijay Hazare Trophy most of India’s limited overs cricketers are taking part including vice-captain Rohit Sharma, but Dhoni has decided not to take part in it.
Dhoni who isn’t getting much batting time in last couple of years was expected to be a part of Jharkhand’s quarter-final against Maharashtra. But on Saturday, Jharkhand chief coach Rajiv Kumar told reporters in Bengaluru that Dhoni has decided against playing the quarter-final, contrary to what chief national selector had earlier announced.
“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.