Nine years ago, on December 30, 2014, the cricket world was stunned as MS Dhoni announced his retirement from Test cricket. His decision, made during India’s Test series in Australia, brought an end to the era of one of India’s finest Test captains.
MS Dhoni’s retirement came as surprise
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued an official statement confirming MS Dhoni’s decision to retire from Test cricket.
The release cited the physical toll of playing across all formats and highlighted Dhoni’s crucial role in guiding India to the No. 1 ranking in Test cricket.
It also expressed gratitude for his significant contributions to the format, paving the way for Virat Kohli to take over as captain for the final Test against Australia in Sydney.
Dhoni’s retirement came as a surprise, particularly after he missed the first Test due to injury, with Kohli acting as the stand-in captain. The announcement was made right after India’s draw in the third Test.
MS Dhoni Test career
Under MS Dhoni’s leadership, India achieved significant success, winning the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, the ICC World Cup in 2011, and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. However, despite domestic triumphs, India faced setbacks with consecutive series losses in Australia and England, along with an unexpected defeat to England in the 2012 home Test series.
Dhoni’s Test career spanned 90 matches, where he scored 4876 runs at an average of 38.09, including six centuries. As captain, he led India to 27 victories.
Although Dhoni retired from all forms of international cricket in 2020, his leadership continued in franchise cricket, where he captained Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL, showcasing his strategic brilliance and leadership qualities that had defined his international career.
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