Once-in-a-generation cricketer: Hussain feels Dhoni shouldn't be forced to retire

Former England captain Nasser Hussain feels that people shouldn’t push Mahendra Singh Dhoni to retirement and rather appreciate him while he is around as he is “once-in-a-generation cricketer.”

One of the most respected commentators, 52-year-old Hussain while speaking on Cricket Connected, Star Sports’ new show said, “Once Dhoni is gone, there is no getting him back. There are some legends of the game, appreciating while around because they are once-in-a-generation cricketer and don’t push him into retirement too early. Only Dhoni knows his mental state and in the end, the selectors select and players turn up when asked to.”

Hussain on Saturday (April 11) said that he believes the former captain has a lot more left to offer to Indian cricket.

Dhoni, who donned the national colours last in July during the 2019 World Cup semi-final, has been on a sabbatical since then which is making his shot in the team have a bleak future according to legends such as Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.

Related news: Dhoni wanted to earn ₹30 lakh to settle in Ranchi, reveals Wasim Jaffer

However, Hussain differed and said, “Is MS Dhoni still good enough to get in the Indian side? It is as simple as that. That should apply for anyone across the board. What I have seen of Dhoni, I still think MS Dhoni has a huge amount to offer for Indian cricket.”

Pointing out that the two-time World Cup winning captain let go of a couple of occasions during last year’s world tournament when he couldn’t drive the team through the innings, he said, “Yes, it’s been one or two occasions where he (MSD) got it wrong in run chases, there was a World Cup game in England where he sort of blocked at the end for some unknown reason, but in general MS Dhoni is still a really good talent and be careful what you wish for.”

Meanwhile, amid the country being under a mandatory 21-day nationwide lockdown in view of the coronavirus pandemic, ‘Captain Cool’ was seen mowing the backyard of his residence in Ranchi in a picture tweeted by his wife Sakshi and shared by the official handle of Chennai Super Kings, which he was expected to captain in the now suspended 13th edition of the Indian Premier League.