MS Dhoni Stepped Down After BCCI Nudge, Email Marked The End
It was January 2017. By then, MS Dhoni had accomplished almost everything that could be accomplished as the captain of the Indian cricket team. He was the only captain to have won all three major ICC trophies that existed at that time. Two years ago, he had already bid adieu to Test cricket to concentrate solely on ODIs and T20Is.
He led the Indian cricket team with utmost dedication in the 2015 World Cup and the 2016 World T20, but they could not make it to the finals in both events, losing in the semi-finals. With the next World Cup scheduled to take place in England, the transition had already begun. Virat Kohli was all set to take the reins.
But just four days into the new year, the news broke out – India's most successful captain was to hang up his boots. After a decade-long incredible journey, the Dhoni era had come to an end, and a new era had begun under Virat Kohli.
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Maybe MS Dhoni would have made this call on his own someday, but the first push came from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. MSK Prasad, who was then the chairman of selectors, along with Jatin Paranjpe, had a chat with Dhoni about how the time was perhaps ripe for a change in leadership.
Paranjpe said on The Great Indian Cricket Show:
“Mahi was batting. He kept batting for an hour, and MSK and I were just looking at each other. We had prepared how to tell him in the most respectful way. So we went to him and said, ‘You know, Mahi, I think it’s the right time to move on.’ So, he told MSK, ‘Anna, this is the perfect decision. Let me know what you want from me.’ MSK told him that he will have to put it in writing that you are ready to move on. He said, ‘Alright, I will do it.’ Late at night, we received an email: ‘I would like to step down’. We had to make this decision. We were criticised for it as well, but these are the tough decisions that you have to take.”
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With MS Dhoni stepping down, the way was paved for Virat Kohli to take complete charge. Kohli was already the Test captain of the Indian team and had been leading the team to great success. Even when Dhoni was still in the picture, Kohli had been leading the Indian team quite well at the 2019 World Cup in England.
According to a book written by former India fielding coach R Sridhar, Kohli had been earlier very keen to take charge as the captain of the Indian team in all formats. At that time, head coach Ravi Shastri had assured him that he would get the chance when the time was right and when Dhoni was ready.
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It might have taken some time, but MS Dhoni finally put his complete faith in Virat Kohli, which helped to mark the beginning of a new era in Indian cricket.
Dhoni’s support proved to be a crucial factor in Kohli’s transition. With so much experience in wicket-keeping, he continued to lead the team. Jatin Paranjpe revealed that Dhoni did not think twice before providing complete support to ensure that India had a strong white-ball side in the coming years.
The former selector said:
“He also said Don’t worry. I will work completely with Virat. He is like my brother. I will do everything that is required of me for him. Whatever experience I have, I will give it to him. And we’ll make a good team.”