MS Dhoni may "soon end his ODI career". That's what Team India coach Ravi Shastri has to say.
He also called the four-day Test proposal "nonsense".
"I have had a conversation with MS and that is between us. He has finished his Test career, he may soon end his ODI career... In all probability, he will finish one-day cricket," he said while speaking to 'CNN News18'.
"People must respect that he's played non-stop in all formats of the game for a while.?At his age, probably the only format he'll want to play is T20 cricket which means he'll have to start playing again, get back into the groove because he's going to play in the IPL and see how his body reacts," he also said.?
Shastri maintained that the 38-year-old had a shot at playing the World T20 if he performs well in the IPL.
"So he will be left with T20, he will definitely play the IPL. One thing I know about Dhoni is that he will not impose himself on the team. But if he has a cracking IPL, well, then..."
Dhoni last played for India in the 2019 World Cup semifinal vs New Zealand.
"We will have to consider a person's experience and form. They will bat in the number 5-6 position. If Dhoni plays well in the IPL then he does put himself in contention," Shastri added,
Captain Cool has been on a break since July and he has represented India in 350 ODIs, 90 Tests and 98 T20Is and has 829 dismissals as a keeper in all formats.
The highlight of his career was winning the 2011 World Cup when he won the game with a six.
On four-day Tests, Shastri had the same opinion as Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting.
"Four day Test is nonsense," he said.
"If this goes on we may have limited-overs Tests. There is no need to tamper with five-day Tests. If at all they want to tamper then let the top six sides play five-day Tests and the next six be allowed to play four-day Tests.?If you want to preserve Tests then let the top six play more against each other. You have the shorter format to popularise the game," he insisted.?
"Day-night Test is still under test. I still feel that the pink ball does not give any advantage to spinners, they need to get the ball right for day night. During the day you have full Tests, by night it looks like half Test," was his take on the Pink Ball Test concept.?