MS Dhoni’s Future With Team India? BCCI-Elect CAC Questions Potential National Selectors

A few of the candidates were also asked whether they are 'only looking at the chairman's post' or they would be happy to become just a selector.

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The future of Mahendra Singh Dhoni with Team India dominated the headlines during BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting on Wednesday to pick the national selection panel. The Madan Lal-led CAC had a common question for all the shortlisted candidates applying for national selectors post: “what will be your call on Dhoni’s future with the Indian team?”

Five candidates – Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, Venkatesh Prasad, Rajesh Chauhan, Sunil Joshi and Harvinder Singh were asked a question on Dhoni, who has not played since the ICC Cricket World Cup (2019) semifinal loss to New Zealand in July.

The former India skipper will return to competitive cricket during the upcoming edition of Indian Premier League (IPL). He will resume his duties for his franchise – Chennai Super Kings in the T20 league, beginning March 29.

“Yes, the CAC had one common question and that was about their call with regards to Mahendra Singh Dhoni and whether they will select him for T20 World Cup,” a senior BCCI official was quoted by PTI.

Eventually, Joshi and Harvinder were named the two new selectors in the five-member panel.

It is understood that the new BCCI regime wants the selection committee to have a clear cut stand on Dhoni’s international future.

“Dhoni is both a sensitive and tricky issue and that’s why the question needed to be asked,” the source added.

A few of the candidates were also asked whether they are ‘only looking at the chairman’s post’ or they would be happy to become just a selector.

While Sivaramakrishnan was a strong candidate, it is learnt that CAC was not sure if he would have been ready to serve only as a selector under the chairman.

As pointed out by Lal himself, Joshi did not have any issues in working with anyone else at the helm. A shuffle in the selection panel is due in September when tenure of Jatin Paranjpe, Devang Gandhi and Sarandeep Singh ends.

“We liked his straight forward attitude,” Lal said after the interviews in Mumbai.