MS Dhoni was relaxed right through the interaction but revealed a steely desire to make an impact at home at the World T20.
“I need to have plan to pass my time after retirement.” A collective laughter broke out after MS Dhoni uttered these words. Nobody, including Dhoni, took this statement seriously. It was an answer to a query regarding his collection of stumps, the ones he plucks out of the pitch after a memorable win.
He would say shortly. “Ten years would pass if I start remembering the match from which I took home a stump after a win. I have a big collection. Time pass to karna hai na.”
All this was said in a lighter vein. But, as it has become a usual affair during his media interactions, a question, this time indirect, probed India’s limited over skipper about his retirement plans. Dhoni heard, smiled and replied in typical MSD fashion.
“For the next one year, you will see MS Dhoni doing a lot of brand promotion. After the IPL, we play 13 Tests and only 5 ODIs. I need only five days to complete those ODIs, and after that it’s only brand promotion.” he said.
He also made sure there are no follow-up questions. “Ideal answer to nahi mila. Abhi issi se kaam chla lo,” he said.
The topic quickly changed to the upcoming Asia Cup and the World T20 and Dhoni maintained his previous views about the squad and the playing XI. “The good thing is we are only playing T20 cricket. We have a balanced team and we can change only one or two players from the playing XI according to the wicket or if someone is ill or injured. The 15 players in the squad are good,” he said.
While he did agree that the bowling attack in ODIs lacks consistency, Dhoni felt that India’s attack for the two upcoming T20 tournaments had a balanced look.
“In ODIs, it is important to build pressure. But if that doesn’t happen in the middle overs, especially outside India, then there is a problem. If we don’t get wickets in those overs, pacers face problems in slog overs. Overall, in ODIs we don’t look consistent in the death overs. In T20s, we are looking very good as of now in both death bowling and the first six overs. It’s a balanced attack.”
Dhoni was relaxed right through the interaction but revealed a steely desire to make an impact at home at the World T20. While on the topic of his collection of stumps, Dhoni said, “Hopefully I will take one more stump home.”
