Careless Whispers: Dhoni’s retirement triggers speculation about unrest in Indian team
Sydney: The Indian cricket team flew in here and largely spent the day indoors even as there was intense speculation over Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s decision to quit the Test format with immediate effect, which surprised the cricket fraternity. A day after the BCCI announced Dhoni’s retirement from Test cricket, citing strains of playing in all three formats, the Indian team management chose to remain tight-lipped on the development.
Dhoni, who himself did not speak about his retirement in the post-match press conference and the preceding presentation ceremony, travelled with the team but did not interact with the media. The 33-year-old Dhoni’s retirement came as a bolt from the blue as the Indian captain had not given any hint about his impending decision although pressure was mounting on him to give up Test captaincy in view of his poor overseas track record.
The timing of Dhoni’s retirement and the manner in which it was announced has triggered widespread speculation that all is not well in the Indian dressing room, which led the captain to quit Test cricket. His decision invited criticism from former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, who said, “the decision to give up captaincy was right though the decision not to play Test cricket is incorrect.” “I would be brutally honest that I am surprised by the decision in the middle of the series. Three Tests are over and it was a question of one more. He could have finished it off,” Ganguly added.
“None of us know whether this decision in the middle of the series could have happened because of an injury, which would have ruled him out of the next Test. He did come into the series with a finger injury and none of us has an idea whether that had become worse,” Ganguly said. Meanwhile, the Australian media celebrated the fact that their country has become “a graveyard for the careers of visiting captains with Dhoni the latest skipper to end his leadership tenure after a mauling down under”.
“The Aussies have long prided themselves on their ability to nullify the opposition captain, believing it is key to gaining a psychological advantage during a Test series,” Herald Sun wrote. The newspaper cited example of England’s Andrew Flintoff, Pakistan’s Mohammed Yousuf, Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene, India’s Anil Kumble and South Africa’s Graeme Smith, who all ended their Test leadership after loss in Australia.
Meanwhile, Sydney Morning Herald speculated that Dhoni may not be in Sydney to see the baton formally passed to Virat Kohli with India contemplating sending the former captain home before the fourth Test.“Dhoni travelled to Sydney with the Indian team a day after shocking the world with his Test retirement, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India are yet to decide if he will remain with the squad,” the newspaper wrote. Dhoni now has the opportunity to get back home and get refreshed before the tri-series and the World Cup.
