I've been training and working out in the gym during the break, says MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni will play competitive cricket after 75 days when India take on England

A couple of days back, former Indian skipper and selector Dilip Vengsarkar questioned India’s ODI and T20I captain MS Dhoni’s fitness ahead of the ODI and T20I series against England. Dhoni hasn't played competitive cricket since the end of the ODI series against New Zealand in October.

Dhoni, who is currently the mentor of Jharkhand Ranji team, will play competitive cricket on January 15, nearly 75 days since he last played one. Vengsarkar pointed out that one needs to play regularly to stay match fit. He asked. “Dhoni has retired from Test cricket. He also doesn't play Ranji games. So how does he keep himself match-fit?”

Before India’s tour to Australia earlier this year, Dhoni gained some valuable match practice by playing for his state in the Vijay Hazare trophy. However, this year’s Vijay Hazare’s trophy begins almost a month after the England series gets over. As Dhoni has retired from the longer formats, he has opted not to play for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy. So, it will be a challenge even for somebody with his exceptional level of fitness to stay in shape for the demands modern day game.

Chief selector MSK Prasad cleared things last week when he said that Dhoni is regularly training with the Jharkhand team. 

“We have no information as to whether Dhoni will be playing any Ranji Trophy game or not. In any case, he has already retired from the longer format. The information we have is that he is doing his regular training with the Jharkhand team," Prasad was quoted by the PTI.

I've been training and gymming in Ranchi: Dhoni

Amidst this, Dhoni himself revealed that he is keeping himself busy by gymming and training in Ranchi. He was recently spotted at Yuvraj Singh’s wedding as the Indian ODI skipper, along with his wife Sakshi flew to Delhi to wish Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh and his bride Hazel Keech. 

While speaking to The Telegraph at ITC Maurya, Dhoni said, "I've been training and gymming in Ranchi. Keeping myself in shape (for the ODIs and the T20Is against England)." .

The three-match ODI series begins first, on January 15. That will be followed by as many T20Is. The ODI series against Poms will be a crucial one as the Indian team will play just three ODIs in 2017 before they fly to England to take part in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in England where India will look to defend the title.