IND vs SA 2019: BCCI Reveal the Reason Behind the Absence of MS Dhoni

After announcing the three-match Twenty20 International squad of India against South Africa next month, many questions were raised over the absence of former?captain MS Dhoni. Although BCCI’s press release did not offer any clarity on his absence, MSK Prasad, India’s Chairman of selectors has confirmed to India Today that Dhoni has informed the BCCI of his unavailability for the T20I series against South Africa.

“Yes he was unavailable for selection,” he said.

However, a member close to MS Dhoni had earlier told India Today that the former captain is currently in the USA and would be unavailable. It was worth noting though, that no one gave a proper reply about his future, whether he will play in the T20 World Cup or not. MS Dhoni hasn’t played a single game since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. He was unavailable for the West Indies series as well, spending a fifteen-day stint with Indian territorial army.

On the other hand, Rishab Pant scored a well-made 42 ball 65 in the last T20 against West Indies. This made his selection more prominent in the shortest format of the game. Alongside MS Dhoni, spin twins – Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal also failed to make the cut. They weren’t even selected for the West Indies series as well. even though both Yadav and Chahal are key players in ODIs.

Meanwhile, Krunal Pandya and youngsters?Rahul Chahar and Washington Sundar have been selected for the series. MSK Prasad said, “We are just trying to build a pool of spinners. The likes of Rahul Chahar, Krunal Pandya and Washington Sundar had done well in the last series and they deserve another go.”

India, however, will play twelve Twenty20 Internationals at home for the next five months. That will give the selectors a chance to choose a probable squad for the T20 World Cup which is scheduled to play in October 2020.