When MS Dhoni was found inches short of the crease, as Martin Guptill’s throw hit the stumps and bails were dislodged; he walked back to the pavilion taking the hopes and dreams of more than 1.25 billion people. And as the Indian team lost the game by 18 runs, the fans and experts speculated whether this was the last time Dhoni played for India.

Incidentally, this was Dhoni’s 350th ODI match and he scored a valiant 50 runs in the match, but the outcome has left questions on the 38-year-old former captain’s future in international cricket. His batting in the World Cup 2019 was scrutinized and everyone was asking just one question, “should Dhoni retire?”. Now the question has been answered by none other than Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachin Tendulkar answers whether Dhoni should retire or not

Tendulkar was asked this same question and he was quoted as saying, “That’s his personal decision [end of 50-over career]. Everyone should give him that space and respect that. Everyone should respect his contribution to India cricket rather than starting speculations. After having contributed so much, he should be the one taking that decision.”

MS Dhoni has had a brilliant career so far with over 10,000 runs and 10 centuries to his name in ODI cricket. He is the only captain to win all the three ICC trophies and adulation of more than a billion fans. However, his finishing powers are on the wane and this was evidence that he has been needing a partner to get India home. The big hits were not coming in as frequently as they did in the past and his innings against England was criticized by everyone, including Tendulkar.

However, even the Bharat Ratna awardee admitted that Dhoni had a very amazing career so far. “How many guys can have a career like this? He has had a special career. The support and belief that people have in him is a reflection of his contribution. People still believed that he could go and finish the game. The game was not over till the time he was out there,” Tendulkar was quoted as saying by India Today.

Also read – India’s sudden halt in World Cup 2019 could see a complete overhaul

As far as fans are concerned, Dhoni paying respect to all of his batmakers during the World Cup by using various stickers in the matches was a sign of him winding up his career.