Dhoni has not told us anything about retirement: Virat Kohli
Manchester, Jul 10: India captain Virat Kohli Wednesday said MS Dhoni has not told him anything about his future plans amid speculation that the veteran may call it quits after team's semi-final exit from the World Cup.
Dhoni scored 50 off 72 balls in India's 18 run defeat at the hands of Black Caps and the skipper once again came to veteran's defence on his slow approach during the middle overs.
Asked if Dhoni has said anything about his future plans, with squad for the West Indies tour to be announced soon, Kohli said,"No he hasn't told us anything as of now."
Dhoni, coming in to bat at 71 for 5, it was not easy to accelerate straightaway and it needed a rebuilding which he did alongside Ravindra Jadeja.
"I think Dhoni had to hold the innings from one end and allow Jadeja to play freely. He batted in the right way. He has been given a specific role as per the team situation and he played accordingly. They had a 100 run partnership from that situation," Kohli defended the former skipper.
The skipper also feels that it is "very easy to criticize sitting from outside".
"Yes we are not denying that we made errors but in hindsight, we can criticize a lot," Kohli said.
His opposite number Kane Williamson felt that Dhoni's run out was the turning point of the match.
Asked if he would have been the captain, would have still persisted with Dhoni, he cheekily enquired, "Is he changing his nationality?"
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'With or without Budget, we are doing our work': Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said that he does not need announcements to be made in the State Budget to carry out developmental works.
He said this highlighting the developmental works in his native district of Bengaluru South.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who also holds the Finance portfolio, is scheduled to present the 2026-27 Budget on March 6. This would be Siddaramaiah's record 17th budget.
"No need to have expectations from the Budget. With or without the Budget, we are doing our work," Shivakumar said in response to a question on what can be expected from the Budget.
Speaking to reporters, he said, "Others need the Budget. We don't. It's not that we need to take up work only if it is announced in the Budget."
Citing the example of flagship Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) in Bengaluru South district, Shivakumar said, "You get a survey done across the country. Bengaluru South district has 25 government schools, each one costing Rs 15 crore. We have ensured it. Has anyone else done it? Was this in the Budget? We created it, it is our concept. Now there is a state level policy for 2,000 such schools."
Further pointing out that during the JD(S)-Congress coalition government under H D Kumaraswamy's Chief Ministership in 2018-19, he had ensured a medical college was announced for the then Ramanagara (now Bengaluru South) district, he said, "But the next BJP government under B S Yediyurappa cancelled it and took the medical college to Chikballapura district. Now, we have given medical colleges to both Ramanagara and Kanakapura (taluks in the Bengaluru South district)."
He also highlighted private medical colleges are coming up in Channapatna taluk and one between Ramanagara and Kanakapura taluks.
