Three years back MS Dhoni had said he would have to retire from either Test or One-Day crickets so that he can play beyond the World Cup in 2015. He had said he would take a call by the end of 2013. It is tough to play non-stop cricket at the highest level and Dhoni was well aware of the fact that he had to make a choice at some point.
It is a difficult choice to make; hence it took Dhoni one more year to decide that he would quit Test cricket as the most successful Indian skipper in the long form of the game.
India won 27 Test matches, mostly in India, under Dhoni’s captaincy. He led India in 60 Test matches and played in 90 matches for the country.
The 33-year-old Dhoni led the team with commendably with stellar individual performances in England, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia or West Indies. Whenever the team loses series outside Asia, Dhoni’s leadership has come under sharp criticism. Even in Australia Test series where Team India had to face defeat, Indian bowlers failed miserably to deliver.
“One of India’s greatest Test captains under whose leadership India became No 1 team in the Test rankings MS Dhoni has decided to retire from Test cricket citing the strain of playing in all the formats of cricket,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said soon after Dhoni announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect.
“Dhoni has chosen to retire from the Test cricket with immediate effect in order to concentrate on ODI and T-20 formats of the game. BCCI respects the decision of M S Dhoni and wants to thank him for his enormous contribution to the Test cricket and the laurels that he has got for India,” Patel added.
Dhoni turned down BCCI’s offer to continue as captain even after the defeat in Australia. Dhoni made up his despite pressure to continue from all quarters, including his teammates. “Once he takes a decision, Dhoni sticks to it, a hallmark of his leadership ability,” a close friend of Dhoni said.
Questions have been raised about the timing of his decision – in the middle of Australia series. “As far as I know Dhoni, he wanted to quit while he was performing. Leave it when you are still on top. He didn’t want to drag his career like others,” another friend of Dhoni said.
Given by Virat Kohli’s temperament, there have been suggestions the youngster would need time to lead Team India. Kohli will lead the team in Sydney Test.
With Dhoni retiring from the Test cricket, Indian will certainly miss an all-round committed player. He is still the best bet India has in batting and wicketkeeping.
