The tournament was supposed to be Dhoni’s comeback event, the former captain having not been part of any international squad since World Cup 2019. There has been little clarity on his situation – he hasn’t yet retired – and the expectation was that he would look to state his readiness in the IPL and stake a claim for a spot in the squad for the T20 World Cup later this year.

The uncertainty sparked by Covid-19 has seemingly put paid to those plans, but Raina has spoken of how good Dhoni looked in the nets last month.

Will Dhoni play for India again?

Here’s why Sehwag thinks not ?https://t.co/QWVyGw8AvV

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) March 18, 2020

“It was a nice camp,” Raina told PTI. “I was there for two months but then this [lockdown] happened. Got to spend some time with Dhoni. He was batting so well in the nets, he had the hunger of a youngster. In one session, he batted for three hours at a stretch.”

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It was a point made earlier in the week by L Balaji, the former India paceman and CSK bowling coach. “MS Dhoni was looking good, fit,” Balaji had told India Today. “He focussed on training just like he always does and was as normal as he has always been.

“He trained like the way he did last year or two years ago. There is nothing that changes when it comes to his preparation. His routine, his mindset, everything is the same. Dhoni was focussed on getting ready for the IPL. He is that kind of a person who always takes it one moment at a time.”

A decision on IPL 2020 will be made following the end of a 21-day lockdown in India on April 14.