ms dhoni: MS Dhoni’s return to India does not depend on IPL: Aakash Chopra | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: One of the most anticipated parts of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), which is currently suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, was the return of MS Dhoni to the cricket ground. Dhoni last played in the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand and has been on a gap year ever since.

Dhoni’s performance in the IPL was believed to decide whether he would be part of India’s global T20 squad. But cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra begs to be different. The former India starter called it a “mistake” that people had.

“It is a great mistake to think that Dhoni’s return to the Indian team depended on his performance in the IPL,” Chopra said. “If this is how we will see Dhoni as a player and his career and what he has accomplished as a player, then I think we are knocking on the wrong door, because it is not right.”

Chopra feels that if Dhoni wants to play for the Indian team again and if the team’s management wants the same thing, it will happen.

“Look, if the team wants me to play, all that will happen. But if the IPL does not take place this year, the T20 World Cup will not happen this year, (then), of course, it will be one year older; and with him out cricket for over 18 months, you can assume you may not see him play again for India, “Chopra said.

However, the former Indian hitter said looking at the current stage, hosting the T20 World Cup seems “difficult” in October-November, which in turn may open a window for the 13th edition of the IPL.

Chopra also believed that if there is the possibility of IPL “behind closed doors”, it should be taken.

“It is still a long shot because we don’t know how the world is going to work. This COVID-19 pandemic is an unfolding story. For a tournament like the IPL, you must ensure the safety of the players. It is planned to have the IPL on target closed and I think it’s better to have the tournament empty, rather than not having the tournament at all.

“To be honest, the T20 World Cup seems very, very difficult because Australia has already put a travel ban on until September. The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be played in October. So October-November could be the window to suddenly open up. Because moving the whole world to one place and then playing the tournament is much more difficult than playing, says the IPL, in a country where most of the players are Indians and only a handful of players have to fly.

“From the point of view of a commentator and a cricket lover, I would like the IPL to happen,” he added.