The Buzz: MS Dhoni knew 2019 World Cup would be his last games for India

MS Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020, but according to a former member of India’s support staff, he had decided to hang up his boots during the 2019 World Cup.

In his new book, R Sridhar, India’s former fielding coach, recounts a conversation Dhoni had with Rishabh Pant on the morning of the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.

“On the morning of the reserve day in our World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Manchester, I was the first person at the breakfast hall, Sridhar writes in Coaching Beyond: My Days with the Indian Cricket Team. “I was nursing my coffee when MS and Rishabh walked in, picked up their stuff and joined me at my table. “New Zealand had only a couple of overs to bat out and we'd start our innings thereafter, so the match would end reasonably early. Rishabh told MS in Hindi, 'Bhaiyya, some of the guys are planning to leave for London today itself privately. Would you be interested?' MS replied, 'No, Rishabh, I don't want to miss my last bus drive with the team.'”

Sridhar goes on to add that he chose not to reveal Dhoni’s decision to anyone “out of sheer respect for the man”. “He had taken me into confidence. I couldn't shoot my mouth off. So, I didn't utter a word not to Ravi [Shastri, India’s head coach], not to [Bharat] Arun [bowling coach], not even to my wife.”

After yet another spectacular T20I innings, this time a 51-ball 112 not out in a 91-run over Sri Lanka in Rajkot, Suryakumar Yadav soaks in the adulation from fans and appreciation from Virat Kohli (via Intsagram).