Cricket world reacts to Dhoni's announcement to retire from Test

With no major success in Test cricket coming under his captaincy in recent times, questions were arising on his performance as the leader of the side which include poor overseas tours in New Zealand, England and now in Australia.

 

Meanwhile, the cricket world and his fans posted their reaction on popular micro-blogging site Twitter over Dhoni's sudden announcement to quit from the longer version of the game.

 

Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar tweeted: "well done on a wonderful career in test cricket @msdhoni. Always enjoyed playing together. Next target 2015 WC my friend!!"

 

Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle said: "MS Dhoni showed India what a tough man from a small town could dream and achieve. He has been a role model. Respect. #DhoniRetires."

 

Former Indian skipper Anil Kumble said: "Chennai 2 G, Great career MSD @msdhoni retired as captain. Way 2 go! Well done buddy on a fantastic test inning! Good luck! @BCCI #AUSvIND."

 

Dhoni's IPL side Chennai Super Kings tweeted: "A moment when even Dhoni can't hide his emotions! #ThankYouDhoni."

 

"News Alert - MS Dhoni has chosen to retire from Test Cricket with immediate effect #MSD #Captain," BCCI had tweeted earlier.

 

Apart from Indian cricketers, players from other nations also reacted to Dhoni's retirement from Test cricket.

 

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan tweeted: "Love the way @msdhoni plays the game ... But it's now the right time for @imVkohli to take the Indian Test team in a new direction."

 

Former England player Derek Pringle said: "Dhoni appeared impressively cool under duress but to suggest he was a great Test captain is spinning it more than Prasanna & Bedi ever did."

 

 

Dhoni made his debut as India’s Test captain against South Africa at Kanpur in 2007-08, when Anil Kumble, the incumbent, was injured. He got off to a flying start, leading India to a series-levelling victory by eight wickets. He led India again in Kumble’s absence, against Australia at Mohali, in what was the second Test of the 2008-09 series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India won that game by 320 runs. Dhoni led from the front, with knocks of 92 and 68*. Kumble announced his retirement after the next Test at Delhi, and Dhoni was then formally appointed India’s Test captain. He commenced his tenure with a 172-win over Australia at Nagpur, which enabled India to win the series 2-0 and take possession of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2003-04.

 

 Dhoni subsequently led India to series wins over England in 2008-09, Sri Lanka in 2009-10, Australia and New Zealand in 2010-11, and the West Indies in 2011-12 and 2013-14 respectively. India became the no. 1 team in the ICC’s Test Rankings for the very first time, after the 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka in 2009-10. Dhoni was the first Indian captain to receive the ICC Test Championship Mace for this achievement.

 

With Dhoni at the helm, India squared two consecutive series against South Africa, at home in 2009-10, and overseas in 2010-11. He captained India to series wins in New Zealand in 2008-09, in Bangladesh in 2009-10 and in the West Indies in 2011. India squared a series 1-1 in Sri Lanka in mid-2010.

 

 In early 2013, Dhoni became the first Indian captain to win four Tests in a series, when India defeated Australia 4-0 to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He entered the record books in the second Test of that series, played at Hyderabad. India’s win by an innings and 135 runs was his 22nd as captain, thus enabling him to surpass Sourav Ganguly’s tally of 21 wins as captain, and become India’s most successful Test skipper ever.

 

 Behind the stumps, Dhoni was outstanding. When he caught West Indies’ Marlon Samuels off R. Ashwin at Delhi in November 2011, he became the first Indian wicketkeeper to complete 200 dismissals in Tests. Syed Kirmani, who held the record earlier, had 198 dismissals to his credit, from 88 Tests. Dhoni surpassed the mark in only his 62nd Test.

 

 At the end of the Melbourne Test of the ongoing series against Australia, Dhoni had led India in sixty Tests, which is a national record. They comprised 27 victories.  

 

Dhoni made the reaction at a time when the country is preparing for defending the World Cup next year.

 

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, who was the captain the Indian side in the first Test against Australia, will lead the side in the final match of the series.