MS Dhoni ends Test career, makes way for Virat Kohli to take over

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, one of India’s greatest Test captains under whose leadership India became the No. 1 team in the Test rankings, has decided to retire from Test cricket citing the strain of playing all three formats. “One of India’s greatest Test Captains under whose leadership India became the No. 1 team in the Test Rankings MS Dhoni, has decided to retire from Test Cricket citing the strain of playing all formats of Cricket,” the BCCI said in a statement. “M S Dhoni has chosen to retire from Test Cricket with immediate effect in order to concentrate on ODI and T20 formats. BCCI while respecting the decision of M S Dhoni to retire from Test Cricket, wishes to thank him for his enormous contribution to Test Cricket and the laurels that he has brought to India,” it added. [caption id=“attachment_2022763” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File picture of Dhoni. AFP[/caption] Virat Kohli will be the captain of the Indian Team for the Fourth Test against Australia to be played in Sydney from 6 January 2015, the BCCI said in a statement. Wriddhiman Saha will take over the gloves for the Sydney Test. Dhoni played 90 Tests in which he scored 4876 runs at an average of 38.09, with six hundreds and 33 fifties. He captained India in 60 of those Tests, winning an Indian record 27 matches while losing 18 and drawing 15. His initial record as captain was superb as he won eight of his first 11 Tests but India has struggled, especially away from home, since 2011. Famous of his even temperament, Dhoni earned the nickname “Captain Cool” because he rarely showed any emotions despite the enormous pressure of the position. He also united the traditionally fractious Indian dressing room and got everybody pulling in the direction. Together with coach Gary Kirsten, Dhoni took India to No.1 in the Test rankings in 2009. However, the team rapidly crashed down to earth in 2011 by losing 4-0 to England and then to Australia. The decline coincided with the end of the careers of India’s big four of Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag. Dhoni’s retirement comes with him one defeat away from equalling the record for most away defeats as captain - 16 - held by New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming and West Indies Brian Lara, In recent years, many ex-cricketers have called for Dhoni to step down as Test captain as India lost series in embarrassing fashion in Australia and England. Kohli’s aggressive performance as captain in the first Test in Adelaide amplified those voices further. But still, Dhoni’s decision to step down in the middle of the series will surprise many, especially since he has called time on his Test career, not just as captain. Dhoni played 90 Tests for India, scoring 4876 runs. He effected a total of 294 dismissals.