MS Dhoni has no retirement plans in immediate future

MS Dhoni has dismissed thoughts of him announcing his retirement after the upcoming ICC World T20 2016, which will take place in India. There has been a lot of speculation on the Indian limited overs captain’s future in the shorter versions of the game ever since he quit Test cricket at the fag end of 2014.

Speaking at the launch of a lifestyle apparel brand on Friday, the 34-year-old said: "After the Asia Cup T20 and World T20 there is the Indian Premier League. And then the team is mostly playing Test cricket and about five to six ODIs, which will be over quickly."

The Indian captain had been under severe pressure last month after India lost three back-to-back bilateral ODI series post the ICC World Cup in 2015. India had lost 1-2 to Bangladesh, then suffered a 2-3 defeat by South Africa and a 1-4 thrashing at the hands of Australia.

Since the ODI series loss against Australia, Dhoni has got breathing space after whitewashing the Aussies in the T20I series that followed. After that, India defeated Sri Lanka 2-1 in a T20I series at home which has further cemented India’s status as favourites for the World T20.

The World T20 begins on March 8 with India’s first game scheduled for March 15 against New Zealand at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur. Before that, India will face Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and a qualifier in the Asia Cup.

Dhoni is India’s most successful captain when it comes to limited overs cricket, having won three ICC trophies – ICC World T20 2007, ICC World Cup 2011, and ICC Champions Trophy 2013. In the previous World T20 in Bangladesh in 2014, India lost in the final to Sri Lanka having been unbeaten until then in the tournament.