England all-rounder Moeen Ali has opened up about when ageing cricketers should consider stepping aside from national duty. As conversations around Rohit Sharma’s international future continue to dominate headlines, Moeen's comments have sparked fresh debate across social media. In an exclusive interview with The Indian Express, Moeen explained the difference between franchise and international cricket and urged senior players to assess their value to the team with honesty and perspective. “Franchise cricket is one thing, which is like a privately owned enterprise. You can continue playing if the franchise owners are fine with it. And it is a T20. But when you’re representing a country, be it a Test or an ODI, the self-reflection should be harder," he said. He also explained that he would have continued playing for England if it were a franchise. "If England were a franchise, I would have carried on playing because I know I am capable. But because it’s England and it’s international cricket, and there is always a bigger group of players to pick from, I retired to make way," he said. He stressed that while selectors face pressure in dealing with iconic players, the responsibility to make the tough call should ideally lie with the players themselves. When asked if selectors find it hard to move on from big names in countries like India. “It’s better if it comes from the individuals, of course,” Moeen said. He also pointed out how the cricketers must not hold one just because they are a big name. “I definitely think you shouldn’t just hold on because you’re a big name or you have a massive following. And it should never be your own personal goals,” he said. He elaborated that stepping aside isn't about diminishing a player's legacy but about reading the moment right. “Don’t just hold on for the sake of holding on in a selfish way. Just be a bit more realistic and think, is it worth me holding on? Have I got more to give to the team? If the team wants to go in a new direction, I think you should allow that to happen,” he explained. “Is there a better keeper than Dhoni right now?” While Moeen advocated for timely exits from international cricket, he clarified that franchise cricket operates differently. Also READ: 'Not particularly fond of it': Rahul Dravid on Impact Player rule He highlighted how in franchise cricket, a veteran's participation should depend on form and team dynamics, not age or public opinion. “Is there a better keeper than Dhoni right now? He’s still keeping amazingly well. He’s probably one of the better batters in CSK so far this year. And when I was there, he was one of the better batters all the time,” Moeen said. He acknowledged that criticism often increases when teams start losing, but believes Dhoni still deserves his place in the Chennai Super Kings squad. “CSK haven’t been batting so well and some are saying somebody should come in for Dhoni. And this is what happens when a team doesn’t win. And as I said playing in the IPL is different from representing your country with a larger pool of available talent,” he concluded. Chennai Super Kings find themselves in the 9th spot after five matches. After winning their season opener against the Mumbai Indians, the team had lost four matches in a row. They will return to action on Friday, where they will host Moeen Ali's Kolkata Knight Riders.