MS Dhoni’s career graph kept going up after becoming captain, and mine down: RP Singh

RP Singh, the former Indian fast bowler, feels that MS Dhoni’s career graph saw an escalation after the latter was appointed as the national skipper. The Jharkhand-born’s maiden assignment was the 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa. Dhoni passed the test with flying colours, winning the tournament. Soon after, he was made the skipper in Tests and ODIs as well.

Singh was also one of the architects of India’s glory run. The left-arm speedster picked 12 wickets from seven matches at an economy of 6.33. However, the pacer believes that even as Dhoni scaled greater heights, his journey couldn’t quite take off. But the veteran also said that their contrasting careers didn’t affect their long-lasting friendship by any means.

“We used to spend time together, then he became captain and his graph kept going up and mine down. But our friendship is intact and we still talk and roam around together. In cricketing matters we have different opinions,” Singh was quoted as saying during a conversation with Aakash Chopra.

I was at the top, performance wise: RP Singh

Barring the 2007 T20 WC, Singh played only three other T20Is, going out contention after 2009. In 14 Tests and 58 ODIs, the 34-year-old notched 40 and 69 wickets respectively. Singh also kept searching for the answers of his India snub, but never got the answer. “I didn’t get that answer. Dhoni told that ‘yes you are working hard but maybe it’s about the luck’,” he stated.

“I was at the top, performance wise but neither could I save my place in Tests or ODIs. I played IPL and I guess I was one of the highest wicket-taker in 3 or 4 seasons but didn’t get to play matches may because the captain did not have trust in me or may be my performance had really downgraded,” he added.

Singh last played for India in the 2011 tour of England. In September 2018, he decided to hang his boots from all forms of cricket. In the same year, he plied his trade for the Pakhtoons in the T10 League at the Sharjah. Overall, he picked up 637 wickets from 362 matches.