IPL can't be selection criteria for Dhoni: Nehra
New Delhi: Mahendra Singh Dhoni at this year's IPL can be a talking point but the tournament cannot be a selection trial for the enigmatic former India captain, reckons former pacer Ashish Nehra.
Dhoni has retired from Test cricket and has not played for India in the limited-overs format since last year's World Cup, where India ended semifinalists.
His comeback and retirement has been a matter of intense speculation. His much-awaited comeback is expected to be with Chennai Super Kings at the upcoming IPL, set to be held in the UAE from September 19.
"For me, MS Dhoni's game never came down," Nehra said on Star Sports' show 'Cricket Connected'. "He knows how to run the team, he knows how to push youngsters forward and all these things I don't need to repeat again and again but I don't think this IPL makes any difference in MS Dhoni's stature or his aura as a player," added the 41-year-old Nehra, who played 17 Tests and 120 ODIs.
"I don't think a tournament like the IPL should be MS Dhoni's selection criteria, it's probably just a talking point," Nehra said Dhoni would remain the first choice of any captain, if he is available.
"As far as MS Dhoni's international career I don't think this IPL has anything to do with it. If you're a selector, you're a captain, you're a coach and MS Dhoni...if he is ready to play, he will be my number one name on the list," he said.
The former left-arm pacer said players will have to behave responsibly during the IPL to avoid protocol breaches like that by England's Jofra Archer during the recently concluded England-West Indies series. Archer had breached the bio-secure protocols and was dropped from the side for the second Test. Nehra said such a breach during an eight-team IPL would be a bigger problem to tackle.
"We have seen one incident of Jofra Archer on what happened, so we are hoping that those kinds of the incidents don't happen. That was a bilateral series where the teams are staying at the ground.
"Either you talk about Southampton or Old Trafford, there are hotels at the ground. But in the IPL that's not the case, so all the players should support BCCI should support IPL in organising things better.
"It's not going to be easy, it's going to be a hell of a job just to organise the tournament (IPL) because you're talking about eight teams. Yes, the good thing is that one won't be required to take flights and everything will be by road, so everything will be close so everybody should really help the authorities.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
M'luru: School physical education teacher’s body found under mysterious circumstances in well
Ullal: The body of a 51-year-old physical education teacher was found in a well at his residence in Kondana, under the limits of Kotekar town, on Friday evening.
The deceased has been identified as Prabhakar Jogi, who was serving as a physical education teacher at the Government School in Kallarakodi, Naringana village. Police suspect that he may have died by suicide, allegedly due to health-related issues.
According to police, Prabhakar had dropped his daughter at Uchila School earlier in the day for the school anniversary programme and returned home.
He was later preparing to attend the same event along with his wife and son, when he suddenly went missing. A search was launched by family members, following which his body was found in the well located at his house.
ALSO READ: Delhi: Married man stabs lover after fight over forced abortion, arrested
Police said that Prabhakar Jogi was reportedly suffering from a neurological disorder. He had served in several schools across Ullal taluk and was actively involved in organisations of physical education teachers.
Ullal police visited the spot, conducted an inspection and sent the body for post-mortem examination.
In his complaint to the police, Prabhakar’s son, Sai Tejas, stated that his father had jumped into the well and that there was no suspicion surrounding the death.
Based on the complaint, a case has been registered and further investigation is underway.
