History will remember MS Dhoni as most successful Indian captain: Rahul Dravid

Former Indian skipper Rahul Dravid backed the decision of MS Dhoni to step down as the limited overs captain. In a conversation with ESPNcricinfo, Dravid mentioned that if Dhoni felt he could not go on until the 2019 World Cup as a leader, then this was the best time to step down. He remarked that this would give Virat Kohli a good chance to mould the national side to his liking for the next world cup. He also added that India has only one series to play before the Champions Trophy.

“Probably not that much of a surprise, in the sense that he probably knew that the time was sooner rather than later. There was talk of him continuing till the Champions Trophy with only one one-day series before that,” quoted Rahul Dravid.

“But I think, from his perspective, if he didn’t see himself continuing till the next World Cup, he got the timing really right because if he doesn’t see himself as a long-term prospect as captain then I think it is a good time to let Virat Kohli take over and have enough time to be able to build a one-day team to his liking for the next World Cup,” he added further.

Talking about MSD – the player, Rahul Dravid was spot on in calling him invaluable and priceless to the side. He said that it will be difficult to find someone as good as him.

“There is no doubt that someone of MS Dhoni’s experience and ability, when playing well, is invaluable to the side. That’s the kind of experience and knowledge and ability, under pressure especially. It is not easy to find and not easy to get,” he quoted.

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Speaking further, he mentioned that the onus now will be on how MS Dhoni manages to retain his place in the side. The situation will come when the selection will entirely be based on the performances and MS will have to step up with individual brilliance with keeping and batting.

“The question obviously remains that you need to earn your place in the team and you need to do it with performances. So at his best and performing really well, a guy like MS Dhoni is invaluable to India’s one-day team, especially in the big tournaments coming up. But I think that’ll also be decided by his own performances and his own ability. I think now he’ll really be judged on how he performs and can he hold his place in the side purely in terms of his wicket-keeping and batting. And that’ll be up to him,” quoted the former Indian cricketer.

Adding further, he said that Virat Kohli will be hoping that Dhoni keeps performing. Having Dhoni in the lineup will only help Virat learn the tricks of the trade and get better at the top role.

“And I guess if you’re Virat Kohli, you’ll actually be hoping that MS Dhoni does really well and is able to hold on to his place. Because you would like that kind of experience performing well in the team. Just that knowledge would be priceless for Virat Kohli to have,” added Rahul Dravid.

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Lastly, he conceded that the history will remember Dhoni’s name as the most successful Indian captain. He cited that Dhoni has every single accolade in his shelf that any captain wishes to achieve in his career.

“What else was there for him to achieve? Most number of Test wins for India, number 1 ranking in Test cricket, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy, the World Cup, most number of wins as one-day captain. I’m not great at stats but he must be at the top of every statistical list on what an Indian captain has achieved. History will remember him as India’s most successful captain. And someone who really, in his time as an Indian captain, took the team and the game forward in this country,” he conceded.