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Sunil Gavaskar urges MS Dhoni to remain active in the game ahead of the next season

MS Dhoni will not be seen in Indian colours for sometime now

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has urged present Indian limted-overs captain MS Dhoni to continue playing active cricket in order to remain in touch with the game.

"My honest advice to Dhoni after IPL is to take a break but not too much of a break. When you take little bit of a break in international cricket, it is hard to catch up. Keep playing, keep training and you can come back for the next season.

“Clearly, he is going to play some cricket. After the IPL, he can play Caribbean Premier League. Even in England, just before the English season conclude. If he does that, he gets a practice. Though, I don't know whether he will be allowed to do so by the BCCI,” he said.

The 66-year-old added that India were 20 runs short of where they should have got after their 20 overs, but also credited the West Indies bowling effort.

"I think India could have scored 20 runs more. I think it was possible. There was a time when we might have. Despite getting a good start, we never really actually got to more than eight runs an over.

"Eight runs an over against a good batting side and on a good batting pitch is not really expected, particularly with guys in form. You would expect more than 10 runs an over. So, I think even the West Indian bowlers bowled well," the former India opener added.

The West Indies were certainly at an advantage when the toss fell in their favour and commenting upon that, Gavaskar revealed an conversation that he shared with Clive Lloyd.

“Once I was doing commentary with Clive Lloyd when he was the chairman of ICC Cricket committee. He made a very good point. He said 'when you come to the semi-finals and final, toss should not be factor'. It should be a day game, where there is no dew because in day/night game, there would be a situation where dew might get into play. I think it is a very valid point.

Gavaskar further added that it was unaccaptable for a spinner to deliver a no-ball.

"The spinners are really not expected to bowl a no ball. Fast bowlers, in their effort to ball a yorker or a bouncer, can sometimes overstep. Thus, for a spinner to bowl a no ball is unacceptable. This is something you got to practice in the nets," he said.

 

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