Retirement query ruffles captain Dhoni

Kolkata, Exasperated by the never-ending speculation about his retirement, MS Dhoni today said that being questioned about it at every platform will not change his plan to continue playing for a considerable period of time. “If I say something one month or 15 days back, the answer does not change, irrespective of where I’m answering it,” said Dhoni on Sunday, ahead of the team’s departure for Bangladesh for the Asia Cup.
The 34-year-old made it amply clear that he was not retiring from international cricket anytime soon. Dhoni had called time on his Test career in the middle of the away series against Australia in December 2014.
“Just because you have a platform to ask questions, it does not mean you keep asking the same questions,” an irritated Dhoni responded to a query on his retirement.
“Anything happens, questions are raised in India. If we win comfortably, we will be asked whether we have peaked too early. If we lose the final, we will be asked whether we can take the pressure of a final. And if we don’t qualify, there will be questions if we’re good enough to handle pressure at home.
“I can’t stop people from asking questions. If better questions are raised, I will answer 100 percent for sure,” Dhoni said.
Having won the inaugural World T20 nine years back, the Indian skipper will once again look to reclaim the trophy and the build-up will begin in Bangladesh.
The Indian skipper said they would look to give everyone a chance in the Asia Cup to get the balance right for the World T20. “It’s important to play as a settled team. It’s important to give everyone a game, but we will also look to win the games,” he said.
India launch their Asia Cup campaign against Bangladesh on February 24. “I’ve the belief and the talent required to win a big tournament. This team has all the ingredients. It’s important to keep everyone fit. If everybody gets a chance to play, it will be very good for us.”
On his captaincy, Dhoni said: “I’m 100 percent the same. There’s no change in views and tactics. It’s definitely the same.”
Does he believe in luck? “Luck is a big factor. It may be the toss, you may have a game with dew and you lose the toss or it could be a rain-affected game. All these things come into play.”