Why BCCI Is Allowing MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan To Skip Domestic Cricket: Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar wants the two players to compete in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, especially Dhoni, who is facing constant criticism for his waning batting form.

Outlook Web Bureau

Updated on: 4 December 2018 3:34 pm

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Shikhar Dhawan, who are likely to feature prominently in India's ICC World Cup campaign in England next year, are cooling their heels a bit even as the Men in Blue are busing Down Under, taking on host Australia.

Dhawan, who was dropped from the Test team, is spending time with family in Melbourne following the T20 leg of the Australia tour while Dhoni has had no cricket since the ODI series against the West Indies ended on November 1.

And with a cramped schedule in the runup to the World Cup, batting great Sunil Gavaskar has questioned why the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is Dhawan, Dhoni and others to skip domestic cricket.

"We shouldn't ask Dhawan and Dhoni 'Why you are not playing domestic cricket?'. We should, in fact, ask the BCCI and selectors why are they allowing players to skip domestic cricket when they are not on national duty," Gavaskar told India Today.

"If the Indian team has to do well, players have to be in prime form and for that they have to play cricket," he added.

Gavaskar wants the two players to compete in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, especially Dhoni, who is facing constant criticism for his waning batting form.

Dhoni is a certainty only in the 50-over format after he was ignored for the T20s against the West Indies and Australia. He retired from Tests in 2014.

"He (Dhoni) didn't play the T20Is against Australia, before that he didn't play the West Indies Tests, and then he is not playing the Test series against Australia.

"So, he last played in October (November 1) and will next play in January, which is a huge gap. But if he doesn't do well on tours of Australia and New Zealand, then there will be more questions asked on his place in the World Cup.

"As you grow older and if there is a gap in your cricket, your reflexes will slow down. If you play any form of cricket at the domestic level, you get an opportunity to play long innings, which serves as a good practice for you," Gavaskar added.

The World Cup starts on May 30 next year.

(With PTI inputs)