Has Dhoni played his last game for India?

India great MS Dhoni may have played his last match for his country after his team sent out a cryptic post on social media ahead of last night’s final T20 match in Bangalore.

Before India thrashed England by 75 runs to seal the series 2-1, Dhoni was presented with a framed gift featuring his image alongside pictures of the major trophies he has won in his illustrious career – 2007 World T20, ICC Test mace awarded in 2009, 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India tweeted a picture of Dhoni and his teammates before the match saying: “Inspirational. Captain par-excellence. Thank you - #TeamIndia."

While on Facebook, the Indian Cricket Team posted the same picture and close ups of the framed gift, along with a description that reads: “THANK YOU! #TeamIndia felicitates former captain MS Dhoni for his outstanding and inspirational leadership that took Indian Cricket to new heights.”

Adding to the theory it was Dhoni’s final international outing was the attendance of injured opening batsman Rohit Sharma, who has missed the entire limited-overs leg of England’s tour with a thigh injury.

On January 4, prior to the opening one-day international against Eoin Morgan’s men, Dhoni announced he was stepping down from the captaincy effective immediately, with the reins handed to Test captain Virat Kohli.

While he might not have been at the helm, the 35-year-old was still in control of his own game during the two series, winding back the clock to score 134 in the second ODI in Cuttack before striking a rapid 36-ball 56 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday night.

Dhoni shocked the world when he announced his Test retirement out of the blue at the conclusion of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG in 2014. 

Following India’s exit from the World T20 on home soil last year, Dhoni was asked whether he was keen on playing on having achieved practically everything in the sport, as displayed in the gift he was presented before last night’s game.

In not so many words, India’s greatest captain said he intended to play on until the 2019 World Cup, but that tournament looks a long way off now.

The upcoming Champions Trophy in England this winter, where India hope to defend the title they won under Dhoni’s leadership four years ago, could be his international swansong if Wednesday’s final T20 against England wasn’t already.