New Delhi: Team India may have lost the World T20 semi-final match at the Wankhede Stadium against Wet Indies, but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a cricketer like no other - in line with his ‘captain cool” moniker.
In the post-match press conference yesterday, he was confronted with a question from Australian reporter, Sam Ferris, that whether he would retire following this loss to the West Indies. (Q. You have achieved virtually everything that a cricketer could. Are you keen to continue playing on?)
Replying to this, Dhoni smiled remarkably and asked the journalist to come sit beside him. “Come here, let's have some fun. I am serious, come here,” Dhoni said.
The reporter went over and Dhoni asked him, “You want me to retire?” The reporter replied, "No, I don't. I was just asking."
Dhoni said, "I was hoping it would be an Indian media guy. I can't really say whether you have a brother or son that can play for India as a wicketkeeper. Do you think I am unfit?" The Australian man said: “No”.
The Indian skipper asked, "Looking at me running (Unfit)?" Ferris replied, "Very fast".
Dhoni asked, "Do you think I can survive till the 2019 World Cup?" The Australian reporter said, "Should, sure, yes."
India's best limited over captain laughingly said, "You have answered the question."
Batting first, India posted a competitive total of 192/2 in 20 overs, thanks to Virat Kohli's 89. In reply, a brave West Indies side chased down the total posting 196/3 in 19.4 overs, thanks to Lendl Simmons' 51-ball 83 and Johnson Charles' 36-ball 52.
This was not the first time questions have been raised over Dhoni's retirement from the international cricket. In February this year, just ahead of the Asia Cup, Dhoni was irked by a question from the media about his retirement plans.
The 34-year-old skipper’s reply at the press conference in Mumbai has laid to rest any speculations regarding his retirement from the international cricket.
Several former players, including Virender Sehwag, have said Dhoni needs to captain the Team Indian until 2019 World Cup.
