Dhoni hasn’t been seen around since India’s semifinal exit at the 2019 World Cup in England. He skipped the West Indies tour after the tournament to spend a fortnight with the Indian territorial army, and took no part in the home series against South Africa and Bangladesh that followed either. He will also not be a part of the upcoming limited-overs internationals against the visiting West Indies and he has been absent from the domestic circuit as well.

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It has led to much speculation around the future of the former India captain. His recent response to a journalist who queried him on the matter – “January tak mat poocho” [don’t ask until January] – has only further put things under a cloud, but that isn’t case within the board, if Ganguly is to be believed.

“No, no, there is clarity, but certain things cannot be said on public platform,” Ganguly told PTI. “There is absolute clarity on MS Dhoni and you’ll find out in time.

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“There’s transparency between the board, MS and the selectors. When you deal with such champions – MS Dhoni is an unbelievable athlete for India – certain things have to be kept within the closed doors. It’s very transparent and everybody knows where they stand.”

Dhoni’s silence on the matter means that it isn’t known yet if he will feature in next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. Coach Ravi Shastri had said earlier that Dhoni’s IPL form, as well as the form of those who have donned the gloves in his absence, such as the 22-year old Delhi wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant, would make things clearer closer to the tournament, and Ganguly concurred with that view.

“We will see what happens,” he said. “There’s enough time. Of course it will get clear [within three months].”

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