The BCCI on Friday night announced the India squad for the Twenty20 international series against the Windies (home) and Australia (away) with skipper Virat Kohli being rested for three matches against the Caribbean outfit. But there was another big name missing from the list -- MS Dhoni. Dhoni was excluded from both the T20I squads with youngster Rishabh Pant set to don the gloves. Chief selector MSK Prasad quickly moved to dispel talk of Dhoni's retirement, assuring fans that this was not the end for the former India captain in T20Is.
The news of Dhoni's exclusion soon went viral on social media and fans came in their numbers to express their displeasure at the decision.
With the next T20 World Cup in 2020 in Australia, former players and cricket pundits felt that this could be the end of the road for Dhoni in T20Is.
However, MSK Prasad made it a point to say that the selectors are looking at back-up options behind the stumps.
"Dhoni is not going to play the 6 T20Is because we're looking at the second keeper slot. It is not the end of Dhoni in T20Is," said chief selector MSK Prasad.
India have played a total of 104 T20I matches since the format's debut in 2006 and Dhoni has been part of 93 of those matches. Dhoni, who led India to the T20 World Cup title in 2007, has scored 1,487 T20I runs at an average of 37.17 and a strike-rate of 127.90.
Dhoni has hit two half-centuries and also has 54 catches and 33 stumpings to his name in T20 international cricket.