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Dhoni stumps fans with painting ambitions
NEW DELHI, May 21, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni fuelled
retirement speculation on Tuesday after sharing his dream of becoming a
painter, although his ambitions for a career change seemed far from serious.
The 37-year-old Dhoni, who is England-bound for the World Cup starting
next week, displayed a few of what he said were his paintings in a video
posted online on Monday.
“I wanted to share a secret with all of you. Right from when I was a kid I
always wanted to become an artist,” Dhoni said in the video.
“So decided I have played a lot of cricket and it’s time for me to take up
what I really wanted to become. And I started getting into painting.”
The wicketkeeper-batsman said that he would soon hold an art exhibition as
he wants to pursue his painting career “very seriously”.
But the paintings that he showed off looked suspiciously childlike,
prompting suggestions from some that the father of a four-year-old daughter
may be pulling some legs.
“Chill out folks. @msdhoni’s video is nothing short of a comedy sketch and
is meant to be taken that way,” wrote one Twitter user.
Dhoni, who led India to the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup title in 2007 and
then the 50-over crown in 2011, is widely expected to call it quits after
this edition of cricket’s marquee event.
Dhoni, who retired from Tests in 2014, has amassed 10,500 one-day runs
from 341 matches including 10 centuries and 71 fifties.
The Virat Kohli-led India begin their World Cup campaign against South
Africa on June 5 in Southampton.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1305 hrs