Ever since Team India’s limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni announced his decision to step down, the entire cricket fraternity is in a state of shock. Social media is replete with fans expressing shock as well as thanking him for his contribution towards the game.
But Dhoni is known for his unpredictable nature. In December 2014, he made a shocking announcement to retire from Test cricket in between the series against Australia Down Under. Since then, he mostly represents India in blue clothing. But what made him announce his decision to relinquish captaincy all of a sudden?
Here are five possible reasons which I think might have played a major role.
Virat Kohli factor: This might be the main reason why Dhoni decided to completely hand over the reins of the team to the Indian Test skipper. Since he took over as captain in the game’s long format, Kohli is enjoying a dream run. The 28-year-old Delhi batter has been able to build a team with a vision and enjoys a lot of respect among players. Plus, speculations have been doing round over appointing him as the captain for all three formats. In such a situation, Dhoni might have felt it was the right time to step down with honour before anyone asks him to do so.
Changing equations within BCCI: The Supreme Court sacked Anurag Thakur as the president of BCCI for failing to implement Lodha panel reforms. It is for sure that the cash-rich cricket body will have a new president. Dhoni, who is in the twilight of his career might have been unsure whether the new board chief might think positively about his stint as a captain.
Also read: Here is why Supreme Court removed Anurag Thakur as BCCI President
Burden of captaincy: During the ICC World T20 held last year, Dhoni was miffed when a reporter asked him about his future plans. While his fans applauded him for the barb and critics berated him for arrogance, Dhoni might have given a rethink after a miserable IPL season while leading Pune Supergiants. The two-time IPL winning captain came under fire after his team finished at the bottom in the cash-rich annual cricket extravaganza. He had quit Test cricket after the burden of multiple captaincies had taken a toll on him. Maybe, he wanted to relax and continue playing for India.
Eye on 2019 World Cup: MS Dhoni led India to the title in 2007 ICC World T20 and 2011 ICC World Cup. Besides this, the team reached the semi-finals of the ICC World Cup 2015. With the pressure of captaincy off his shoulders, he would be able to inspire youngsters with his performance with the bat and gloves.
Reclaim title as a finisher: Besides being a successful captain, Dhoni is the best finisher India has ever had. His winning six off Nuwan Kulasekara in the final of ICC World Cup is still fresh in our minds. But in recent years, he failed to finish the game for India on few occasions. Now that he has stepped down as captain, we are sure he will emerge a much stronger batsman than before.
India will definitely miss you Captain Cool.
Also read:MS Dhoni quits as ODI and T20 captain, Virat Kohli likely to step in
