The year was 2017, and the month, January. MS Dhoni had achieved everything there was to as captain. The only captain to win all three major ICC championships that existed back in the day, Dhoni had ticked all the boxes there were to tick. He had already retired from Test cricket two years earlier, channelling all his focus into the T20I and ODIs. He had led the team with fierce dedication in the 2015 World Cup and the 2026 World T20, only for India to stumble in the semi-final. With another World Cup approaching – this time in England – the ‘process’, as Dhoni always loved referring to, had begun. Virat Kohli was waiting in the wings when, just four days into the new year, came the announcement. India’s most successful captain was no longer going to continue in that position. The 10-year journey had run its course, and the Kohli era was here to take over.
Perhaps Dhoni would have eventually made the call, but the first push came from the BCCI, its then-chairman of selectors, MSK Prasad, who, along with Jatin Paranjpe, spoke with Dhoni about the time being right.
“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.’ So, he told MSK, ‘Anna, this is the perfect decision. Let me know what you want from me.’ MSK told him that he will have to put it in writing that you are ready to move on. He said, ‘Alright, I will do it.’ Late at night, we received an email: ‘I would like to step down’. We had to make this decision. We were criticised for it as well, but these are the tough decisions that you have to take,” Paranjpe said on The Great Indian Cricket Show.
Dhoni pledged full support to Kohli
Dhoni stepping down allowed Kohli to take over entirely. He was already India’s Test captain, having led the country to great heights, and in Dhoni’s presence, led India brilliantly in the 2019 World Cup in England. R Sridhar, the former India field coach, had mentioned in his biography that Kohli had grown restless earlier about wanting to become India’s all-format captain, and it was head coach Ravi Shastri who assured him he’d get it when the time was right. When Dhoni thought he was ready.
It took some time, but Dhoni finally trusted Kohli enough to usher in the next era of Indian cricket. Dhoni’s support was crucial for Kohli. He could use all his experience from behind the stumps. Paranjpe mentioned how Dhoni did not think twice about lending his full support to Kohli to ensure that the Indian team assembled its best white-ball unit for the next few years.
“He also said Don’t worry. I will work completely with Virat. He is like my brother. I will do everything that is required of me for him. Whatever experience I have, I will give it to him. And we’ll make a good team,” the former selector added.
Dhoni’s captaincy journey and rise to the top
MS Dhoni was named India captain a few months after India’s embarrassing ouster from the 2007 World Cup. Once the Men in Blue lost the ODI series in England, a change in guard was needed, and the BCCI, after taking inputs from the great Sachin Tendulkar, entrusted Dhoni. He started his captaincy career on the highest of highs, winning the inaugural World T20 in South Africa with a team no one believed could win. And the rest… as they say… is history. Dhoni took over from Rahul Dravid as India’s ODI captain after a 3-4 series loss at home against the Aussies, and began India’s rise to the top of world cricket. Just a few months in, Dhoni led India to their maiden ODI series win in Australia – a tri-series featuring Sri Lanka.
With the legendary Anil Kumble retiring in October of 2008 with a Border-Gavaskar Trophy win at home against the Aussies, Dhoni was appointed India’s all-format captain. From there began his true rise, and under MSD, India became the No.1-ranked Test team for the first time in 2009 following a historic series win in New Zealand. In 2010, India won the Asia Cup for the first time since 1995, and just before the showpiece 2011 World Cup at home, drew a Test series in South Africa. The World Cup was of course where Dhoni etched his legacy in Indian cricket folklore, ending the country’s 28-year-long wait of winning the most coveted prize in international cricket.
However, with the World Cup, Dhoni’s captaincy acumen decided to fade. 4-0 whitewashes in England and Australia were blows to the gut, yet Dhoni carried on. In 2013, Dhoni won India their first Champions Trophy, first because in the 2002 edition, they were declared joint-winners with Sri Lanka. In January of 2015, Dhoni announced a shock retirement from Test cricket after helping India draw the game against Australia in Sydney, going out as India’s then-most successful Test captain with 27 wins.
