However, 13 games after being the first choice with the Blasters later, Dheeraj moved off course when he decided to join Kolkatan outfit ATK last season. He did win the ISL medal with the club but it came at the cost of just one game - when he started in the 2-2 draw against Bengaluru FC in the final league game of the season in February 2020.
As a result, Dheeraj has also been overlooked by Indian senior national team coach Igor Stimac after the 2022 World Cup qualification games against Afghanistan and Oman in November 2019. The former U-17 World Cupper's name wasn't in the India probables for the India camp that was to be held in March 2020 before the world was hit by the Coronavirus pandemic.