Sourav Ganguly is talking on one of his first decision as future BCIC head, to give a proper farewell to MS Dhoni, Indian captain-wicketkeeper-batsman, ESPN writes
On Wednesday, Ganguly reiterated his stand, saying he would first seek clarity from MSK Prasad's selection panel. "I need to find out from the selectors when I meet them next. We should find out what the selectors think," Ganguly told reporters in Kolkata. "It's not my opinion. I was nowhere in the picture all these days. My first selection committee meeting will be on the 24th."
He said he might speak to Dhoni if needed. "What he (Dhoni) wants to do, what he doesn't (want) to do…What matters is what Dhoni wants. Maybe there is clarity between Dhoni and the selectors, but I do not know of it as yet. Neither side has discussed anything with me. They'll decide on the way forward."
It's consistent with his earlier statements on Dhoni's future, that there was no pressing need for him to leave the game. In March, Ganguly had said if Dhoni continued to be a key performer there was no reason why he should not carry on even after the World Cup. This was weeks after Dhoni finished as the Man of the Series in the three-match ODI series in Australia with three match-turning half-centuries. "Age is never a factor if talent is there," Ganguly had said.
Post the World Cup, Ganguly said the onus was on Kohli, as captain, to decide on Dhoni's future. "Virat is very important as to what he is communicating to Dhoni.
What he (Kohli) expects of him (Dhoni) is very hard to say. But I don't think anybody should jump the gun and pass a statement. If Virat and the team management expect Dhoni to come back and play, he will play. If they feel like moving forward, they would move forward. Of course, the selectors will also play an important role."
Ganguly did point out that Dhoni would need to take that "hard call" every athlete needs to take as the time comes to wind down. But he made it clear that Dhoni was not the "elephant in the room" as far as he was concerned. "I don't think there is any elephant in the room. Rishabh (Pant) is not Dhoni. Rishabh will not become Dhoni in the next three-four years. It took 15 years for Dhoni to become who he is."
Ganguly would continue to provide confidence, space, and time for Dhoni to convert his raw, brutal strength into something more dependable and consistent. Not just as a batsman but even as a wicketkeeper. Ganguly had even marked Dhoni as a back-up wicketkeeper for the 2004 tour of Pakistan.
