How Much Of A Role Did Selectors Play In Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Decision To Quit Limited-Overs Captaincy?

Jan 6, 2017 at 5:43 PM

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How Much Of A Role Did Selectors Play In Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Decision To Quit Limited-Overs Captaincy?

“Had Mahi [Dhoni] taken the decision one year or even six months earlier, I would have been a bit worried. But I salute him for his sense of perfect timing. He knew that Virat [Kohli] is now a proven customer who has done exceptionally well as a leader in Tests.

“So it is a correct decision by Dhoni. It showed that he had the best interest of Indian cricket in his mind.”

These were the first words of chief selector MSK Prasad after Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s decision to step down from limited-overs captaincy had left everyone shell-shocked. So far, speculations are rife that the 35-year-old took the bold step in order to improve his faltering batting form. However, there are few evidences that suggest otherwise.

Dhoni is undoubtedly the greatest skipper India has ever had. But mind you, records are meant for statisticians and fans, not for the persons who are being paid lavishly to take decision for the betterment of the team.

The Men in Blue have had some poor results in the 50-overs format in the last couple of years or so. They lost an ODI series in Bangladesh and Australia and even suffered a series defeat against South Africa at home. Dhoni’s men struggled to play well against New Zealand but managed to win the series. They also crashed out from the semi-final of 50-overs World Cup and T20 World Cup.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli has been making waves as the Test skipper. Unbeaten in the last 18 Tests, the 28-year-old has led the team to the top of Test rankings which has made several quarters to admit that it was time to make Kohli the captain of the team across all formats. The calls to change the captaincy escalated with every passing day and quite predictably, the pressure was piling on the selectors.

Let us now consider the circumstances under which Dhoni decided to leave the captaincy. The team for the England series was set to get selected in a couple of days after Dhoni’s decision and it will be the last ODI series before India go to England in June to defend their Champions Trophy title. Now please go to the top of this article and read MSK Prasad’s quotes. Does the statement ring an alarm? The former Indian wicketkeeper-turned-selector insisted that Dhoni’s resignation came at a perfect time- a clear indication that the selectors were more or less mulling the prospect of sacking Dhoni as the skipper of the team.

The next World Cup is only a couple of years away and the Champions Trophy will be the last chance for the Indian team to test themselves in English conditions. Moreover, apart from the upcoming ODI series and the Champions Trophy, no other ODI series is finalised yet which would have made it tough for Dhoni to remain connected with the players. On the other hand, a new skipper will be in constant touch with all since the core of the Test and limited-overs team is more or less same, handing him the captaincy seems a logical decision.

The selectors have remained quiet on whether they had played any role in Dhoni’s decision or not but when one considers the minute details, selectors’ role looks pivotal. For the time being, one can only hope that they will spill the beans once they complete their tenure like the former selector Sandeep Patil, who had revealed how the selection committee persuaded Sachin Tendulkar to quit the game.

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