MS Dhoni’s decision to retire from Test cricket was brave and selfless: Ravi Shastri
MS Dhoni is regarded as the most successful skipper across the world with all three ICC Trophies in his cabinet. The legendary cricketer ruled the world of cricket while taking India to various heights. Though he decided to draw curtains on his international career in 2020, he already bid adieu to the longest format of the game in 2014 while being on tour to Australia.
Only after having 90 Tests under his belt, it looked quite surprising on his part to bid farewell to Test cricket. India’s current head coach Ravi Shastri opened up on this aspect and stated Dhoni’s decision to be absolutely ‘brave and selfless.’ Shastri added that it was true that the former legendary skipper wasn’t getting any younger but he could have stretched to level up his stats. He will still come under the top three fittest players on the team.
“MS was India’s, in fact, the world’s, biggest player then with three ICC trophies under his belt, including two World Cups, and some very impressive silverware from the IPL. His form was good, and he was just 10 matches shy of completing 100 Tests. Still one of the top-three fittest players on the team, he would have the opportunity to boost his career stats if nothing else. True, he wasn’t getting any younger, but he wasn’t that old either! His decision just didn’t make sense,” said Shastri on Dhoni in his recently released book ‘Stargazing: The players in my life.’
Shastri opens up on approaching MS Dhoni to reverse his decision
Shastri added that he even approached him to reverse his decision but stated that MS was firm enough which stopped him to push further. However, reflecting back on the same matter now, the current head coach feels that the decision was correct and much brave even.
“All cricketers say landmarks and milestones don’t matter, but some do. I approached the issue in a roundabout way, probing for an opening to make him change his mind. But there was a firmness to MS’s tone that stopped me from pushing the matter any further. Looking back, I think his decision was correct; also brave and selfless”
