Dhoni takes 2 months off, to skip WI tour

New Delhi, July 20

Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 38, today made himself “unavailable” for the tour of West Indies, but ruled out immediate retirement a day before selectors’ meet in Mumbai to pick squads for the away series.

Amid mounting speculation on his international retirement after India’s semifinal exit from the World Cup, Dhoni has told the BCCI that he will take a two-month sabbatical to serve his paramilitary regiment.

Dhoni is an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment of the Territorial Army. “Dhoni is not retiring from cricket right now, he is taking a two-month sabbatical and we  have intimated his decision to skipper Virat Kohli and chairman of selectors MSK Prasad,” a BCCI official said.

Dhoni’s refusal to take retirement leaves the ball in the court of the selectors, who were expected to drop him from the squad for the West Indies. India will play three T20 Internationals, as many ODIs and two Tests in the tour starting August 3. — PTI