MS Dhoni’s resignation as India’s captain in ODIs and T20Is came as a surprise to many, but former Indian skipper Rahul Dravid wasn’t one of them.
The man who captained the Indian ODI team before Dhoni feels that the decision was expected keeping the next ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019 in mind.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Dravid mentioned that Dhoni has got his timing right if he doesn’t see himself playing in the next World Cup.
“[Dhoni’s decision was] probably not that much of a surprise, in the sense that he probably knew that the time was sooner rather than later. There was talk of him continuing till the Champions Trophy with only one one-day series before that,” said Dravid.
“But I think, from his perspective, if he didn’t see himself continuing till the next World Cup, he got the timing really right because if he doesn’t see himself as a long-term prospect as captain then I think it is a good time to let Virat Kohli take over and have enough time to be able to build a one-day team to his liking for the next World Cup.”
T 2494 - So MS Dhoni retires from Captaincy, but open for selection .. this true quality of a leader .. !! better 'why' than face 'why not'
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) January 5, 2017
Dravid also feels that Dhoni’s experience will be invaluable to the Indian team. The Jharkhand cricketer had played in 283 ODIs for the Men in Blue, scoring over 9000 runs at an average of above 50.
“There is no doubt that someone of MS Dhoni’s experience and ability, when playing well, is invaluable to the side. That’s the kind of experience and knowledge and ability, under pressure especially. It is not easy to find and not easy to get,” added Dravid.
“The question obviously remains that you need to earn your place in the team and you need to do it with performances. So at his best and performing really well, a guy like MS Dhoni is invaluable to India’s one-day team, especially in the big tournaments coming up.”
Dravid hailed Dhoni’s contributions as captain to the Indian team over the years.
Under Dhoni’s captaincy, India won three ICC trophies – World T20 2007, World Cup 2011, Champions Trophy 2013 – and were also the number one side on the ICC Test Rankings between 2009 and 2011.
“History will remember him as India’s most successful captain. And someone who really, in his time as an Indian captain, took the team and the game forward in this country,” the 43-year-old said.
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