In January 2017, MS Dhoni had nearly reached the pinnacle of his captaincy career with the Indian Cricket team. He was the only captain to have won all three major ICC trophies available at the time. Two years earlier, he had retired from Test cricket to focus on ODIs and T20Is.
Dhoni led the team with commitment during the 2015 World Cup and the 2016 World T20, but India fell short in the semi-finals of both tournaments. With the next World Cup approaching in England, a leadership change was underway, as Virat Kohli was prepared to take over.
Just four days into the new year, it was announced that Dhoni would retire from limited-overs cricket. After a remarkable decade, Dhoni’s era concluded, paving the way for Kohli’s leadership.
While Dhoni might have planned to retire on his own, the initial push for a change came from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. MSK Prasad, the chairman of selectors at the time, along with Jatin Paranjpe, spoke to Dhoni about the timing for a leadership transition.
Paranjpe recounted the conversation 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.’ He replied, ‘Anna, this is the perfect decision. Let me know what you want from me.’ MSK mentioned that he needed it in writing that he was ready to step down. Mahi agreed and sent an email that night: ‘I would like to step down’. We had to make this decision, and we faced criticism for it, but such decisions are necessary.”
Dhoni Supports Kohli
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With Dhoni’s resignation, Kohli was fully positioned to lead the team. Kohli was already the Test captain and had achieved significant success. Even with Dhoni still in the team, Kohli was managing well during the 2019 World Cup in England.
In a book by former India fielding coach R Sridhar, it was highlighted that Kohli was eager to lead in all formats. At that time, head coach Ravi Shastri had assured him he would get his chance when Dhoni stepped aside.
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Finally, Dhoni placed full trust in Kohli, signaling a new chapter for Indian cricket. Dhoni’s support was vital for Kohli’s leadership. With his extensive experience as a wicketkeeper, he continued to offer guidance to the team. Paranjpe shared that Dhoni was quick to assure his support for Kohli, aiming to strengthen India’s presence in white-ball cricket.
“He also said, Don’t worry. I will work completely with Virat. He is like my brother. I will do everything necessary for him. Whatever experience I have, I will share. Together, we’ll form a strong team.”
