MS Dhoni for India training camp post lockdown? Experts left divided

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to organise a six-week camp for its elite cricketers somewhere in July and speculations have started whether Mahendra Singh Dhoni will make the cut or not. The BCCI is looking for a safe time and venue for the camp after the third week of July and in case if it is not possible then players will join their respective IPL camps later in the year.

While Dhoni is not in the central contracts list, a few players from outside the pool is expected to feature in the camp. Former chief selector MSK Prasad is of the view that Dhoni should feature in the camp if the preparation is for the T20 World Cup, otherwise players like KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson are there for the bilaterals.

"I don't know whether T20 World Cup is happening or not. If it is happening and you are just looking at the camp as a pre-cursor to the tournament, then MS should definitely be there. If it's a case of bilaterals, then you already have KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson," Prasad told PTI.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

ALSO READ:After 2011 World Cup final fixing allegation, Sri Lankan government launches probe

Former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra said that if Dhoni wants to be there in the camp then he should be there, no questions asked.

"If I was a national selector, MS Dhoni will be in my team but the bigger question is that whether he wants to play or not. It's what Dhoni wants at the end of the day," Nehra said.

Whereas Harbhajan Singh has said that he wants to see youngsters take part in the camp while mentioning the likes of Ravi Bishnoi, Yashasvi Jaiswal and in-form Suryakumar Yadav.

ALSO READ:Chinese sponsorship in IPL helps Indian economy, not other way around: BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal

"I would like to see Suryakumar Yadav, the young U-19 leg-spinner (Ravi Bishnoi) and Yashasvi Jaiswal in that camp.

They should get a chance to interact with the senior players. No one deserves it more than Surya, who should be in that T20 team," Harbhajan said.

Deep Dasgupta, on the other hand, feels that Dhoni cannot be ruled out of the World Cup even if he is not there in the camp while adding everything depends on how the former Indian captain performs in the IPL.

"I mean if Dhoni is a part of that camp, it will be six weeks with the next batch of keepers who can pick his brains. Yes, if he is not a part of that camp, I would still not rule him out if he has a good IPL. Say he bats at No 4 for CSK and gets 500 runs, can you ignore him then?" questioned Dasgupta.

A senior official privy to selection matter is of the view that he would be very surprised if Dhoni is picked for the upcoming camp.

"He hasn't played for one year. You haven't seen in what shape he is right now. He is not in central contracts and he wasn't even picked for the T20s against West Indies last year. Still if he is called for a camp, it will be surprising," the official said.

(Inputs from PTI)