Hailing Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s illustrious career as the captain of the Indian cricket team, former cricketer and team director Ravi Shastri on Thursday said the wicketkeeper-batsman’s decision could have been based on his understanding that Virat Kohli was ready to lead the team in all formats.
“This is a good decision taken at the right time. He must have throught Virat Kohli was ready to lead in all formats,” Ravi Shastri said, while commenting on Dhoni’s decision to step down as ODI and T20 captain.
In a surprise announcement yesterday, Dhoni said he was stepping down as the captain of India’s ODI and T20 team. He has already quit playing Test cricket and his retirement then had come as a similar shocker.
Dhoni, who is known for his cool temperament, has led India in 199 ODI matches and 72 T20 matches. Under his captaincy, India won both T20 World Cup and ODI World Cup.
He has said he will be available for selection for the upcoming matches against England.
Speakig to India TV on Cricket Ki Baat, Shastri said he has never seen a player with the type of temperament that Dhoni has. Shastri, who was Indian cricket team’s director for nearly two years, said he has never seen Dhoni lose his composure.
“His expression is always same whether he loses or wins, whether he scores a hundred or zero or even two hundred. He always remains calm,” Shastri said.
On the role Dhoni would have in the ODI team as a player, Shastri said it was up to captain Virat Kohli how he uses the most successful Indian wicketkeeper-batsman.
“Dhoni is very fit, I think he can comfortably play for at least two years,” Shastri said.
Dhoni has so far played 283 matches in the ODI format and has scores over 9,000 runs.
