Former Team India skipper MS Dhoni's exclusion from the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) central contract list has sturred up the rumor mills once again.

With questions over the wicketkeeper-batsman's retirement doing the rounds, the decision to exclude him just gave rise to more speculations.

Speaking on the topic of Dhoni's future, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector MSK Prasad gave an update during an exclusive interview with Sportstar.

"As far as we are concerned, we are backing youngsters and giving them as many opportunities to settle well and play long. Mahi will take a decision for himself."

"As a panel member, if I keep professional duty aside, I am as big a fan of Dhoni as anyone else,” Prasad said.

Ever since India's semi-final exit from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 against New Zealand in August last year, MSD made himself unavailable for selection. During his break from cricket, the 38-year-old also served for the Indian Army too.

MSK then went on to laud MSD for being able to guide India to all the prestigious ICC trophies in the past and said its only Dhoni who can decide when to call time.

“He has achieved everything under the sun winning two World Cups, the Champions Trophy, the No. 1 Status in Tests. Nobody can question that," he said. 

"About his career, he will take a call. As selectors, our duty is to move on and identify the next generation of players and keep giving them chances,” he added.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and head coach Ravi Shastri in the past have also claimed that the decision to retire from the game is totally up to MSD and there is still a leeway for the veteran cricketer to earn a spot in the national side for the upcoming 2020 T20 World Cup if his performances with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) are up to per.