Dhoni quits as India captain

Sport Desk: Mahendra Singh Dhoni has resigned as India’s cricket captain. He was leading the Indian team in ODIs and T20 ever since he retired from Tests on December 30, 2016.

Just like he did with his Test retirement in Australia, Dhoni caught everyone by surprise by announcing his retirement from the limited overs format of the game.

A man who has won virtually every international silverware, Dhoni was keen to lead India in the ICC Champions Trophy in UK in June this year.

That honour should automatically go to Test captain Virat Kohli, who was recently named captain of ICC ODI Team of the Year, 2016.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni informed the BCCI that he wished to step down as the captain of the Indian cricket team from the limited overs formats of the game, said a statement from the Board. The 35-year-old from Ranchi played 283 ODIs and 199 of them as captain.

After Ricky Ponting and Stephen Fleming, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has played the third highest number of ODIs as skipper of the Indian cricket team.

Dhoni will be available for selection for the One Day and T20I series against England. The senior national selectors will pick the squad on Friday.

Dhoni played 73 T20 internationals and in the shorter formats of the game was considered as one of the best finishers of the game. Of the 73 T20s, Dhoni led India in 72 of them, a world record.

Rahul Johri, Chief Executive Officer of the BCCI said, “On the behalf of every Indian cricket fan and the BCCI, I would like to thank Maherdra Singh Dhoni for his outstanding contribution as the captain of the Indian team across all formats.

“Under his leadership, Indian team has touched new heights and his achievements will remain etched forever in the annals of Indian cricket.”

Source: Agencies

risingbd/DHAKA/Jan 4, 2017/Amirul