Intro: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the captain cool of Indian Cricket team left everybody stunned when he suddenly announced retirement from International Test Cricket.
I was 17 when Dhoni started his career and made his debut in December 2004 against Bangladesh. After watching his style of playing cricket, not only I many other people were of the opinion that he will play Test Cricket but a decade later his retirement comes as a shock for many as he’s the one behind most Test win as an Indian captain. He is the man who brought new dimension to cricket with his astute skills and truly transformed the Indian team from being mere paper tigers to real tigers on field after former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly.
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On the last day of the Melboune test, when everybody was expecting a draw, the unexpected thing which stunned Dhoni’s fans was his retirement. Everybody expected a big celebration, but there were no farewell celebration for India’s most successful Test captain, most successful wicketkeeper and most prolific Keeper-batsman. There was not even a farewell press conference. Just after the Boxing Day test, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sent a press release with the news. Former Test cricketers Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar expressed surprise at Dhoni’s decision to quit from Test with immediate effect with one more match to go in the series against Australia.
| Mahi’s Record in Test Matches
Mahi as Test Captain 60 Matches
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Where people have been congratulating Dhoni, there are many who think his decision to retire is wrong. Former Indian Cricketer Kirti Azad told Organiser that, “I always appreciated Dhoni. What he did for Indian Cricket as a player and captain is incredible. He has been fantabulous throughout his career but what he did in the last is not appreciable. He should not have left his team in mid of the series; this will definitely brings down the morale of team in the last test and may also affect team’s performance in the coming World Cup.
This is not what we call sportsmanship. The decision of Dhoni gives fire to the rumour of rift between Virat and him. I think there is a rift in Indian team too. He could have announced his retirement after the series ended, I am still not able to comprehend what made him take this decision in the mid of the series?”
There is no doubt that he is a fabulous captain and player India has ever got, but his declaration of retirement in the mid of the series has left many questions un-answered. Was it the right time to quit in the middle of the series? Was there pressure on Dhoni to give up Test captaincy to Virat Kohli? Was there pressure from BCCI to quit captaincy? Were Dhoni not willing to play under Kohli's captaincy? Having always led from the front how right is it to desert the side in middle of the series? Were the controversies surrounding the Chennai Super Kings franchise in the Indian Premier League haunting him? The only man who can answer these questions is Dhoni and we have to wait till he gives answers.
With his own brand of batsmanship, his true achievements for India came while he was captain and led India to the T20 crown, got the team to become number one in Tests and won the World Cup 2011 at home. His calm composure under pressure always made him special. We will definitely miss his calmness and dignity on the field.
The journey of India’s most successful captain from Ticket collector to the top of world cricket comes to an end. Indian Test cricket has lost the man who took Indian team to new heights. He remains the shining star of Indian cricket and hope once again he will bring World Cup to home.
Nishant Kumar Azad
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