Keshav Ranjan Banerjee’s Claim Came In After Dhoni’s Retirement:
MS Dhoni remained unknown in his retirement from international cricket but on Sunday childhood coach Keshav Ranjan Banerjee said criticism and speculation may have played a role around his long sabbatical. The 39-year-old Dhoni on Saturday bid farewell to international cricket, bringing down the curtains on a glorious career. During the lost World Cup semifinal against New Zealand in July last year, his last outing in India colours. Speculation has raged about his future since he went on a sabbatical after that match but he stoically avoided a answer for over a year.
“Since the 2019 World Cup semifinal in July, there has been a lot of speculation about him in the media about how he will return to international cricket because he hasn’t played a single match.
“I don’t know, but in this decision it might have played a part. Only he (Dhoni) can shed some light on it,” Banerjee told a leading sports website from the hometown of Dhoni Ranchi. Banerjee, who first introduced Dhoni to cricket at the Jawahar Vidya Mandir in MECON during his school days, maintained that his “favorite student” was still fit for another year to play for India.
“Yeah, I said he could have played easily for another year including the next T20 World Cup. And I still maintain that.” Looking at his level of fitness, he could have played easily. Not only is it my view but many others were thinking the same way, “said an emotional Banerjee.
“There’s an end to it. Yes, I’m heartbroken but you have to take control of your emotions at the same time.” The two-time former World Cup winning captain would go down as one of the finest to have played the game for India, turning up for the country in a whopping 350 ODIs, 90 Tests and 98 T20 Internationals.
Banerjee said Team India should retire Dhoni’s no. 7 jersey.
“I ‘m sad for just one thing that we won’t be able to see No.7 jersey anymore. Everyone has to retire at one point. But it’s a sad moment. I don’t think Team India should give this jersey to anyone. It’s a legend and No.7 will always be for Dhoni.”
However, he will compete in this year’s IPL, which starts in the UAE from September 19 after being relocated from India due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dhoni’s announcement came a day after he joined his Chennai Super Kings IPL team for a camp ahead of their UAE departure.
Asked if the COVID-19 pandemic had a impact on his decision, Banerjee said it was all hypothetical. “He’s not the only sportsperson to be affected by the pandemic. All players are affected. It’s a hypothetical situation. T20 World Cup has been postponed for now. He’s made up his mind. It’s his decision.
When asked how eager Dhoni will be to strike in the IPL, Banerjee said: “Only we’ll see how he’s going to do it. Every match is like a cricketer ‘s exam and everybody’s going to see how he’s doing this time for CSK.”
