Over 17000 runs, 800+ dismissals as wicket keeper and 3 ICC trophies as captain. Is it the end of Dhoni era? Moments after #Dhoni started trending on Twitter today, speculations were rife that the former Indian skipper, who has been off-field since India's world cup exit, might hang his boots today. It is also being speculated that Dhoni has called for a press conference today to announce his retirement.
However, MSK Prasad, Chief Selector of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refuted the retirement claims and said "There is no update on MS Dhoni's retirement, and the news is incorrect."
India skipper Virat Kohli's tweet on Thursday set the rumour mills abuzz when he recalled the 2016 World T20 clash against Australia when M.S. Dhoni made him "run like in a fitness test".
"A game I can never forget. Special night. This man, made me run like in a fitness test," Kohli tweeted the image of the epic game played at the PCA Stadium in Mohali where he can be seen celebrating the victory while being on his knees while Dhoni is walking towards him.
The match Kohli is referring to was a virtual quarter-final match between India and Australia in World T20 played on March 27, 2016 which the Men in Blue won by six wickets and proceeded to the semi-finals.
Kohli was the star of the match, as he stuck at one end and scored an unbeaten 82 off just 51 deliveries to help India register a famous win.
In their run chase of 161, India were struggling to keep up with the required run rate and had lost three wickets for 49 runs in 7.4 overs. Yuvraj Singh was struggling to run between the wickets. However, Kohli built his innings running quick singles and doubles and Yuvraj was almost hobbling between the wickets.
Yuvraj got out in the 14th over with India at 94 in 14 overs and then Dhoni, who is counted among one of the best runners between the wickets in world cricket, came to the crease.
The duo shared an unbeaten 67-run stand for the fifth wicket and took India across the line.
India, however, failed to lift the T20 World Cup trophy as they were defeated by the eventual champions, West Indies in the semi-final.
[With IANS Inputs]