Fans see red after MS Dhoni's omission from T20I squad vs WI, selectors urge calm

Selectors say MS Dhoni has been rested and they are looking to test a 2nd wicket-keeping option. Fans though are absolutely fuming.

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New Delhi: A veteran of 93 T20Is with a strike rate of 127.09, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has not only been a regular face for Indian cricket in the format but has also led the national team to laurels galore the world over. Little wonder then that the decision to keep him out of the upcoming T20Is against West Indies and Australia has left supporters absolutely fuming.

The Indian team for the upcoming T20Is was announced on Friday evening with Virat Kohli being rested for the matches against West Indies starting November 4. Rohit Sharma will lead the side in his absence. The biggest decision of the day though was to keep Dhoni out of the T20I teams selected for playing both West Indies and Australia thereafter. Instead, the MSK Prasad-led selection panel have chosen Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik as Team India's wicket-keeping options.

While there are some who are calling it a bold decision that points towards an intent to focus on youngsters. Most others though have slammed the decision outright considering Dhoni has featured in 11 fewer T20Is than Team India.

Wait, there is no DHONI !! — ???????????? ?? (@Anupam183) October 26, 2018

.No @msdhoni in the squad?? pic.twitter.com/BdvPQ5jRKO — Parthiv Patel (@parthivpatel) October 26, 2018

Where is @msdhoni ...
Ab T 20 mi maza nhi aayega ... pic.twitter.com/r6UjAu3xbV — Naveen Tiwari (@itsnaveent) October 26, 2018

Thank you bcci for not picking Dhoni as my tv will shut down (no fun in watching cricket now) and i can focus on studies. — SHAH PARTH (@011imparth) October 26, 2018

Ye msk prashad ne mahi se badla lia hai vijay hajare trophy me na khelne ka kya aap log sahmat hain?

— Arvind Maurya (@ArvindM07657491) October 26, 2018

It's the end of an era @BCCI tumko value nee pata ms dhoni ki , tumko world ka best wicketkeeper ,sabse accha captain , most experienced and senior player of the team , Team ka real captain bhar kar diya tumne , pura India janta hai ab bhi ki pitch captaincy kon kar raha hai — Mukul Dayal ???? (@I_am_mukuldayal) October 26, 2018

Then there were a lot many tweets with expletives directed at the selection committee as well even as the selectors themselves defended the move to not play Dhoni by saying he had been rested. News agency PTI quoted chief selector MSK Prasad as saying the decision did not mean that Dhoni's career is over. "We want to try out other keepers for the second keeper's slot," he said.

Although the 37-year-old Dhoni enjoys massive support, there has been some murmur in the past about his form and ability to finish matches. While he has continued to excel behind the stumps, critics observe that the former India captain's batting is but a mere shadow of his attacking past.