Harbhajan Singh reacts to MS Dhoni being left out of BCCI's annual contracts list

India’s World Cup winning skipper MS Dhoni might have played his last match for the national side, said Harbhajan Singh after the former skipper was dropped from the BCCI’s annual contracts list on Thursday.

MS Dhoni has not featured in any international games after the ICC World Cup semifinal defeat against New Zealand. It came as no surprise when MS Dhoni was not mentioned in the annual contracts list.

Conjectures without firm evidence have been widespread over MS Dhoni’s future but his former teammate Harbhajan Singh stated that he didn’t see the former skipper returning to play international cricket.

"It is probably the end of the road for MS Dhoni. I heard the World Cup would be his last event for India - after that he won't play for India again. He had made up his mind long back and that is why he has not made himself available," Harbhajan Singh told India Today.

Previously, Indian head-coach Ravi Shastri had stated that call on MS Dhoni would be taken after the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, Harbhajan said even if Dhoni had a brilliant IPL, he could decide not to play for India.

"If Dhoni has a good IPL and is sure he will because he works so hard... I have no doubt he will have a great IPL. As far as I know, he has made up his mind. If he has a good IPL, he will still make himself unavailable. I don't see him making a comeback. Knowing him, he has played his last game for India during the World Cup," Harbhajan Singh said.

As soon as MS Dhoni was left out from the contracts list, PTI reported a senior BCCI official had intimated Dhoni about the board's plan in advance.

"Let me clarify that one of the top-most BCCI office-bearers spoke to MS and told him about how they are going about in the central contracts. He was clearly told that since he hasn't played any game in the said period (September 2019 till date), he cannot be included for the time being," PTI quoted a board official without naming him.

Following the World Cup semi final exit, MS Dhoni made himself unavailable for the West Indies series and also did not play against South Africa, Bangladesh, West Indies and Sri Lanka at home.

Also Read: MS Dhoni heading towards retirement? BCCI drops him from annual player contract list

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