MUMBAI: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni laughed off talk of retirement as he put a brave face on the devastating World T20 semi-final loss to the West Indies.

The hosts came into the tournament with sky-high confidence but also widespread speculation that it could be the last international outing for Dhoni, 34.

But after India’s stunning defeat by seven wickets, it was left to an Australian journalist to put the burning question to Dhoni at the Wankhede Stadium.

Dhoni then asked the somewhat stunned Sam Ferris of the cricket.com.au website onto the dais, put his arm around him, and turned the tables by becoming the interviewer.

“Do you want me to retire?” he said. “Do you think I am unfit, looking at my running? Do you think I can survive until the 2019 World Cup?”

When Ferris replied that Dhoni indeed looked more than capable of staying in shape until the next 50-over World Cup, a laughing Dhoni then responded: “Then you have answered the question.

“I wished it was an Indian media guy because I would have asked him if he had a son old enough, and a wicket-keeper, to play!” he said.

The exchange came at the end of a painful loss for the wicketkeeper-batsman’s team who had been red-hot favourites to win the trophy on home soil.

If Lendl Simmons and the West Indies rode their luck, Dhoni was left to curse his bad fortune.

“The difference between the first innings and the second innings when it comes to the surface was too much,” said Dhoni as he spoke about his bowlers’ struggles.

“In the first innings you will have seen there was a bit of assistance for the spinners, it was gripping a bit, but there was nothing much in the second innings.”

Although Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 89, Dhoni acknowledged they were about 10 runs short in their innings but refused to criticise his players.

“The only thing I am disappointed about is the two no-balls, other than that we tried our best.”

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2016