“ I came and said MS Dhoni would be the captain in 2011 ”: N Srinivasan

N Srinivasan was instrumental in appointing Dhoni to captain the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL’s inaugural season in 2008. (File photo)

A day after Mahendra Singh Dhoni ended his international career, N Srinivasan revealed how he exercised his authority as BCCI chairman in 2011-12 to ensure he was retained as captain of the India.

During the tour from India to Australia in 2011-12, following a 0-4 debacle in the tests, the selection committee at the time decided to remove Dhoni from the captaincy, without even choosing his replacement, for the following ODI tri-series. Srinivasan came to the selection meeting directly from a golf course to thwart the move.

“It was in 2011. India won the World Cup. And (then) in Australia, we didn’t do the tests well. So, one of the selectors wanted to remove him (Dhoni) as ODI captain. The point is, how do you remove him as an ODI Captain? He had won the World Cup (just a few months ago). They (the coaches) hadn’t even thought about who would be his replacement. There was a discussion and then (before the formal meeting) I said there was no way he wasn’t a player.

“It was actually a vacation. I was playing golf. I returned. Sanjay Jagdale was the secretary (BCCI) at the time and he said, “ Sir, they (the selectors) refuse to pick the captain. They will take him (Dhoni) to the team ”. I came and said MS Dhoni (would be the captain). I have exercised all my authority as President (BCCI), ”Srinivasan told The Indian Express.

READ | MS Dhoni was no longer the first choice, retirement was late

Former Indian drummer Mohinder Amarnath, who was then a member of the selection panel, had mentioned that Srinivasan had blocked the “unanimous decision” to sack Dhoni as captain. “The chairman of the board did not approve the unanimous decision to replace Mahendra Singh Dhoni,” Amarnath told CNN-IBN in 2012.

In accordance with the old constitution of the BCCI, team selections required the approval of the Chairman of the Board. Lodha’s reforms empowered the chief selector to take the final call on selection matters.

India had won the World Cup under captain Dhoni in April 2011, but an aging test team suffered sharp sweeps in England and Australia the following season. But Srinivasan saw no logic in removing Dhoni from the harbor master’s office based on the team’s results in testing. And the former president of the BCCI still supports his judgment.

“You see, there was apparently a prejudice somewhere, that reflected. He (Dhoni) won the World Cup for you. After 1983 India won it again and you say, “I don’t want him to be the ODI captain”! Left to them (selectors), they could have (let him down as a player). I do not know. I think it was the most unfair (movement) and I am glad I held my position, ”Srinivasan told this newspaper.

MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on Saturday. (Photo file)

Srinivasan was instrumental in appointing Dhoni to captain the Chennai Super Kings in the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2008. Over the years, the former Indian captain’s ties to Srinivasan and Chennai have strengthened. After Dhoni’s international retreat, Srinivasan paid a laudatory tribute to the great “goalie-beater”.

“Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an exceptional person, an exceptional cricketer and a very, very fair person. I have had the privilege of knowing him, of moving with him for over a decade. In my lifetime I have met and seen great cricketers, people who had great cricket skills. MS is an exception. He only thought about India and the team he played for, ”Srinivasan said.

He also recounted past selection meetings and Dhoni’s impartiality and fairness.

“I saw him during the selection committee meetings. Whatever opinion he expressed, it made sense, to the point and he never showed any prejudice. I think in that aspect he towered over everyone. I have met so many people in business life, in sports life, but it will not be easy to match his serenity, his poise and his sense of fair play.

Read | The ups and downs of MS Dhoni’s international career over the past 15 years

The former BCCI and the ICC chief referred to a sighting made by legendary leg turner Anil Kumble to explain Dhoni’s leadership skills. “On the pitch he (Dhoni) was unbeatable. In fact, Anil Kumble summed it up when he said – when CSK came back (in the IPL) and there was an auction and everyone criticized the management saying that the team was old – “I’m giving the team six out of 10 on paper. In the field, it is close to 10 out of 10 because Dhoni will be in the lead ”. I do not think that a greater tribute can be paid to him.

He added: “He (Dhoni) knows how to get the best out of every player. He does it without fanfare, without advertising.

But everyone wants to play with him. They want to be good, they want to look good to him. He is a hero of every Indian cricketer. Team meetings lasted a few minutes, that’s all. He will communicate directly to the players. He will communicate during the game, (or) before the game. His communication with the players has never been public.

“It’s a natural. Basically, he’s not a complicated person. He is a person with great clarity of mind. Any celebrity will rely on him lightly. According to Srinivasan, Dhoni played a big role in exploding public interest in T20 cricket, including IPL. “I think Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the reasons for the explosion of interest in cricket in the T20 league, including IPL. The Indian people have embraced T20 cricket and (its) many heroes, but MS Dhoni is special.

Read also | MS Dhoni’s retirement came as no surprise to the inner circle

“A few months ago, before Covid, the team (CSK) gathered here (Chennai) to start training for the IPL. 15,000 to 20,000 people came to the stadium and chanted “Dhoni, Dhoni, Dhoni”… You don’t see this crowd for a test match in many places in India. No publicity was given (for the training sessions). The people heard that he was practicing and they came. Such is its popularity. He is an icon of India and in Tamil Nadu and Chennai he is very special.

“I don’t know how the link between him and Tamil Nadu and Chennai developed. In the first seasons of the IPL, he came, he went out on his motorcycle. People took it.

Dhoni will continue as CSK captain in the IPL and the team are aiming for their fourth title. “He can play for CSK as long as he wants. Right now let CSK win the IPL. One of the reasons for CSK’s success under Dhoni is that they never think beyond the game. He never goes astray. And we will follow the same policy now (regarding Dhoni’s future in CSK after he hangs up the boots), ”Srinivasan said.

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