Farewell, captain

January 06, 2017 03:19 am | Updated 03:19 am IST

It is regrettable that Mahendra Singh Dhoni has called it a day as captain of the Indian team across all formats (“Dhoni steps down as skipper”, Dec.5). Dhoni is a special name in Indian cricket. He is humble, Mr. Cool, and disciplined. He may have received many bouquets and brickbats for his performance as both player and captain but, as rightly said by Sachin Tendulkar, Dhoni was a steady and decisive captain with aggression in his play. We must appreciate him for all that he has done, and for paving the way at the right time for a young and energetic captain like Virat Kohli. Hats off to Dhoni for a wonderful innings as one of the most successful captains that Indian cricket has ever produced.

J.P. Reddy,

Nalgonda

There have been hints in the past of Dhoni quitting, considering his recent performances. He seemed to have lost his magical touch as a dependable finisher. That was the reason why he promoted himself in the batting order to play in the middle overs. When international cricket is all about agility and sharp reflexes, a marginal deficiency in the performance of a player can have a bearing on the outcome of a limited-overs match. I will not be surprised if Dhoni retires from international cricket after the series against England. The relinquishment of captaincy is only a precursor to this intention. Dhoni is practical enough to realise that age had slowed him down appreciably. But what is surprising is that he stepped down as captain after he was named captain by the selectors.

V. Lakshmanan,

Tirupur

Indian cricket has seen many stalwart captains. But Dhoni was certainly an extraordinary one in many ways. As skipper, he mainly focussed on cultivating team spirit and creating opportunities for young players. Team India now has players such as R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina and, of course, Virat Kohli largely because of Dhoni. His field placements and bowling rotations have been commended by experts. Dhoni was a risk-taker and he proved that those risks were worth taking. Outside cricket, he always maintained a low profile. He also maintained a good rapport with the media. He will be missed, but the good news is that he will still be available for selection as a player for the ODI and T20 series against England.

K.A. Abdul Kader,

Podakkudi

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