Indian captain MS Dhoni has retired from Test cricket, meaning his combative deputy Virat Kohli will lead the team in Sydney.
The announcement was as bizarre as it was stunning, Dhoni giving no hint of his plan an hour earlier in his post-game media conference.
The BCCI released a statement in the wake of Tuesday’s Boxing Day Test draw, a result that meant Australia reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
The BCCI said Dhoni was retiring from Test cricket immediately, citing “the strain of playing all formats of cricket”.
The statement added that Dhoni would concentrate on the one-day and T20 formats.
“While respecting the decision of MS Dhoni to retire from Test cricket, (the BCCI) wishes to thank him for his enormous contribution to Test cricket and the laurels that he has brought to India,” the governing body said.
Dhoni’s resignation will send a shockwave through cricket-mad India.
He was rated by Forbes earlier this year as the fifth-richest sportsman in the world.
Dhoni, who missed the first Test in Adelaide, had come under increasing scrutiny for his leadership in the Brisbane loss and the Melbourne draw.
Commentator Ian Chappell savaged him and former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly had also speculated whether it was time for Dhoni to give up the Test captaincy.
When he pulled out of the opening Test in Adelaide because of injury, it prompted speculation that the real reason was to help his preparations for February’s World Cup.
But the widespread belief was that any decision on Dhoni’s future as Test captain would be made after the series ended in Sydney.
India played their best cricket so far on this tour when Kohli led them in Adelaide.
Dhoni is one of Indian cricket’s greatest captains, leading them to the 2011 one-day World Cup.
Under his captaincy, India also became the No.1-ranked Test nation for the first time in 2009.
Another highlight of his reign was last year, when India whitewashed Australia in a Test series for the first time in 40 years.
While Ganguly said Dhoni’s record as a one-day captain was outstanding, he wondered whether the wicketkeeper was still able to bring the best out of his Test teammates.
“It’s not just these two matches, its for a while now (that Dhoni has struggled),” Ganguly said.
“He just hasn’t really got the team going at Test match level.
“The record he has in one-day cricket, he’s a good captain.
“But in Test conditions overseas, it’s just fallen away a bit.”
MS DHONI’S CAPTAINCY
* Test captain 2008-2014
* 60 Tests, 27 wins, 18 losses, 15 draws
* India the No.1 Test nation for the first time in 2009
* Led India to the 2011 World Cup title
* India whitewashed Australia in a Test series last year for the first time in 40 years
* Led India to Border-Gavaskar series wins in 2008, ’10 and ’13.
TEST RECORD
*90 Tests
*4876 runs at 38.09. Highest score: 224
*256 catches; 38 stumpings
Vikram
Guest
Well no surprise for me he had commented before, more then ones right after world cup win he wanted to quit but there wasn't any to take the hat It was obvious the Dhoni was struggling for fitness and form we always know him as a street smart, and it was a street smart act. I guess sorry for my english/hinglish
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Just scored a great half-century and took two screamers. Performed better than a few others in the team, such as, oh I don't know - Shane Watson?
13th Man
Roar Pro
Good decision. MSD had the foresight to know that his form was starting to fall and Kohli was ready to skipper the side. This shows that Dhoni was a team first man and realised that the team will be better off without him. Will still be a fine ODI captain for years to come. I just hope Shane Watson is taking note, he is the same age as Dhoni and offers much less.
Ryan Eckford
Roar Guru
I am still shocked by the decision by MS Dhoni to retire from Test match cricket, but what a Test career he had! For a wicketkeeper-batsman, in 90 Test matches, he averaged 38.09 runs with the bat, scoring 4876 runs in his Test match career at a strike rate of 59.11 runs per 100 balls, and while that is not as quick a scoring rate as some batsman, this scoring rate is over 3.5 runs per over, and this is more than acceptable scoring rate. His batting style was different, but it was effective. As a keeper, he had 256 catches and 38 stumpings at an average dismissals per innings of 1.771. And as a captain, in 60 Test matches, which is a record as an Indian test captain, he won 27 times, lost 18 times, and drawn 15 times, at a winning rate of 45%. He was a great player, a great leader, and someone that India may miss in Test match cricket in the years to come.
Ken
Guest
I agree that the decision was timid but very unlikely it was his. Lehman was the one who actually made the motion to call them in and I'd be very surprised if Clarke wasn't in the rooms as well.
Indian cricket fan
Guest
Johnno Kiran More was a decent lad and a great wicket keeper. He was a great character to have in the Indian team and did a pretty good job few years back as the national selector. But his batting averages were far too low. As a keeper he was probably the best. I never got the privilege to see Syed Kirmani but my dad tells him he was a great cricketer. From his roles in the 83 world cup win to him bailing out India on multiple occasions were some of his achievements, but for many he was probably the best wicket keeper India ever had. Dhoni in pure statistical terms would probably win this battle in the eyes of many, but i would rather have taken a player like Kirmani in the team
Brains of a bimbo (Atgm)
Guest
"A great career and a great cricketer but not a great test cricketer." i disagree with that mate.india became no.1 under him,won 27 tests,overseas performance has been shambolic over past few years but before that they did win in nz and windies and average of 39 is quite good for a wk/batsman.
Johnno
Guest
Indian cricket fan In test cricket give me Kiran More, any day over Dhoni, he was a true test wicket keeper as was Syed Kirmani in the 70's and 80's.
Indian cricket fan
Guest
This is bizarre! He should have quit while facing the press at the post match conference.Nonetheless Dhoni is an Indian great and his contribution to Indian cricket is immense. He played by his style, won all the plaudits with that style and faced a lot of flak recently for it, but never changed. Probably too rigid for test cricket and a flawed technique didn't help his cause, he always gave his all while representing India. More suited to the shorter formats.. A great career and a great cricketer but not a great test cricketer.
Daws
Guest
Well done MS, one of the last stalwarts connected to a past team of greats in Indian cricket.
Daws
Guest
I agree Jamesb, totally against the Australian psyche of being able to win from any position.
Harish
Guest
From the time he asked Kohli to lead in the first test, it was coming. He was checking out his successor. It was not the selectors call but his. The sage goes to the field which he owns(one day) where he wrecks havock with his calm. And he is leading an Indian defence in the World Cup with a young team.
JGK
Roar Guru
Well done MSD on a fine Test career.
soapit
Guest
a lack of inexperience?
JB
Guest
Great career from dhoni I've loved watching him play, unorthodox style a true gentleman of the game.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
This was a good call from Dhoni. He has realised what most viewers have in that his form is really falling off a cliff, and therefore his credibility as captain is severely compromised. By giving Kohli the chance to be outright captain for the last game, where there is no pressure (they've already lost the the series) and he can put his own stamp on the team and his own style of captain in this last game. That way he can step up in the next test series knowing how he wants to run the team and knowing that there is no handing the buck back to Dhoni when he returns. Best of luck to him... If anything, he performed best in Adelaide this series and didn't open his mouth so much. Long may that continue!
fazed
Guest
I would hope that Watson does the same for Australia. Its a perfect time to look at another #3 as a specialist batesman, & have another strike bowler at the end.
jamesb
Guest
Smith did the right thing with the declaration. Why risk a Test, where all you needed was a draw. However, Smith did make a mistake in concluding the game four overs from time. In 2008, India lost three wickets in the final over to hand Australia a win. As a young captain in his second Test, it probably did show a lack of inexperience. I'm sure he will learn.
Andy_Roo
Roar Guru
Easy to say in hindsight. Weather ruined any real chance of a result and a draw was good enough for Australia.
Andy_Roo
Roar Guru
It was obvious the Dhoni was struggling for fitness and form in this series. He has looked in need of an oil can to get his body moving and Kholi showed much more positivity as stand-in captain. Stil Dhoni has been a good player and captain for India and should be congratulated on his career and his achievements. Hopefully he will continue to perform at ODI and T20 level for some time to come