 "Did rift with Shastri-Kohli push MS Dhoni to retire? Here are the best conspiracy theories")
When MS Dhoni announced his retirement from Test cricket on Tuesday, there was no farewell speech nor a standing ovation. No one knew about his decision as the cricket captain quietly informed the BCCI before telling his teammates about it in the dressing room. Although ‘Captain cool’ isn’t known for wearing his emotions on his sleeve, he was reportedly a little emotional when he told his teammates about his decision. However, the question that was on everyone’s mind was: Why did Dhoni retire? It was even the subject of numerous tv debates, with hashtags such as “Is this the way for a captain to retire?’ flashing across perpetually outraged screens. But in this case, it was really something that the nation wanted to know, as can be seen from the tweets below: [caption id=“attachment_2022763” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File picture of Dhoni. AFP[/caption]
Leave when people ask "why" and not when they say "why not?" #Dhoni
— Vikram Chandra (@vikramchandra) December 30, 2014
So why did Dhoni retire? Is it because of the disquiet in the dressing room? Or was it because he couldn’t take the pressure of the sixth straight overseas Test series defeat? Or, was it because of the ongoing IPL corruption investigation? But since no answers were forthcoming from Dhoni, Twitter was forced to do what it does best. And that is to come up with a few solid conspiracy theories. These were backed and buttressed with a few more weighty opinions from some heavyweights in the sports world. Here are some theories made by sports commentators: Ayaz Memon, writing for Star Sports, said that the Indian Premier League corruption investigation could well have been the biggest reason for Dhoni’s exit. “He must surely have also been under duress because of the protracted Indian Premier League case in the Supreme Court, which he has been dragged into by insinuation and allusion, if not directly. He wouldn’t be human if he was unaffected by the raging controversy,” Memon wrote. In Hindustan Times, Pradeep Magazine wrote that it could be because of the pressure put on him by the selectors: “Is this his own decision, an emotional reaction to goings on in Australia, or was the pressure put on him by the selectors too much for him to take?” Madhu Jawali wrote in Deccan Herald that it was his poor performance record that forced him to retire: “Dhoni’s captaincy record in Tests, especially away from home, had admittedly taken a severe beating. His performance with the bat had been on the decline while his wicket-keeping, in conditions where the ball would seam and swing, had come under fire,” Jawali wrote. Dhoni’s first coach Chanchal Bhattacharyya told ABP news that Dhoni was hurt after the IPL scam. “Lately he was a little upset with whatever was happening. The media too went after him, and perhaps, that hurt him. He had told me on a few occasions, that he would quit Test cricket. And, this was it,” the coach revealed. But, here are the more bizarre conspiracy theories: Was Amit Shah the reason? Well, Twitter went on a rant about it!
Was Dhoni forced to do this to deflect focus from Amit Shah issue? Why is BJP so scared?
— Rahul Roushan (@rahulroushan) December 30, 2014
Because, he wanted to be a full time Vice President at India Cements:
India Cements will now have a full-time vice president. And Indian cricket a full-time captain. #DhoniRetires #ThankYouDhoni
— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) December 30, 2014
Impact Shorts
More ShortsBecause he had just decided to retire by 2014.
I'm sure Dhoni had decided to retire in 2014. And as usual, he did it with only a day to spare. #DhoniRetires
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) December 30, 2014
He retired to give more time to endorse brands?
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