Laxman, Agarkar and Aakash Chopra receive flak from Twitteratti after comments on MS Dhoni

The issue which was highlighted initially after he failed to finish a match against South Africa at Kanpur back in 2015, went on to create substance after his slow knock in one of the chases at the Caribbean, and now has created rifts between the cricketing fraternity who have entirely different opinion on the future of MS Dhoni.

It wasn’t too long ago when MS Dhoni took India towards safety and avoided a humiliating situation for India when they were at the cusp of defeat at Lanka, unable to read the spin of rookie Dhananjaya. Also, Australia was on the charge with their pace attack in the opening match of the high-octane series.

It was MSD yet again with a special inning with Pandya, which helped India towards an unlikely win and also set the momentum in the series. In the first T20I against New Zealand, Dhoni lit up the entire Ferozshah Kotla with a monumental hit off the very first ball he faced.

But all his good work was reduced to none as he was unable to time the ball in the Rajkot ODI as voices began to emerge about him calling it quits in the T20 squad and giving an opportunity for youngsters. Many forget that MSD voluntarily stepped aside from captaincy and Test format with Indian and him struggling with the bat in the Test format, and paved way for Virat Kohli take over the helms of captaincy.

Similarly, ahead of England series, he stepped aside from captaincy on his own as he thought VK was ready to take over from him in the limited-overs format. As soon as opinions from former cricketers such as VVS Laxman, Aakash Chopra and Ajit Agarkar started to take centre stage, the think tank of the Indian team featuring Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli lashed out at the comment on MS Dhoni by supporting the talismanic wicket-keeper batsman.

“For the Sri Lanka tour to India, maybe time is ripe to try somebody else, keep them in the loop. Because Dhoni’s numbers have overridden the last year and year and a half, it has dwindled,” opined Aakash Chopra. Ajit Agarkar also backed Chopra’s statement on MSD’s place in the Indian team.

“I think India must now look at other options, at least in T20Is. In one-day cricket, they seem to be happy with the role that he is playing. When you were the captain of the side, it was different. But just as a batsman, will India miss him, I don’t think so. In T20 cricket, it is a lot easier to make that transition as there is a lot of experience in that team apart from MS Dhoni now,” commented Agarkar. Comments from VVS Laxman only added fuel to the fire.

“I still feel it’s time for MS Dhoni to give youngsters a chance in T20 format. It will be an opportunity for a youngster to blossom and get confidence playing international cricket. He is definitely an integral part of ODI cricket,” advised Laxman. As a result, the trio faced a substantial amount of flak on social media.

Here are some of the reactions

@cricketaakash u r such an amazing commentator, but u shouldn't argue or questionnaire on Dhonis place in India team.

— Param Singh (@DesignerParam) November 10, 2017

@cricketaakash asking @msdhoni to retire from T20. What a joke! Ur recommendations are annoying as your commentary. He has given more to ?? cricket than u would in ur entire life time. Learn from @imVkohli @RaviShastriOfc on supporting the legends #MSDhoni #legend

— Meddy Z (@MeddyXIT) November 10, 2017

@cricketaakash – Some jealous people are waiting to see
end of Dhoni’s international career: Ravi
Shastri . What a mouth shutting reply to you

— Bhupesh Dave (@Bhupesh_live) November 10, 2017

@VVSLaxman281 @imAagarkar @cricketaakash are so funny with their serious comments on @msdhoni ? All three never ever or played less T20 for India and they are commenting on a person who won #T20I for India. #Irony .

— Sanjay Manoharan (@SanjayManoharan) November 10, 2017

waoo after kohli now, wat a shout by coach @RaviShastriOfc here.. where are poor critcs @cricketaakash ,@VVSLaxman281 & @imAagarkar .. next time burai krne se phle soch lena?????? https://t.co/Dbcc0nfgJT

— Deepak Jha (@deepakdarshil) November 10, 2017

Maybe time is ripe to try somebody else instead of MS Dhoni: Aakash Chopra.

Maybe time is ripe to try somebody else instead of @cricketaakash in commentary box: indian cricket fans@virendersehwag @RaviShastriOfc @BCCI @imVkohli @msdhoni @ImZaheer @vikrantgupta73

— Ankit jain (@ankit_jn) November 10, 2017

@cricketaakash in ur opinion dhoni must be removed..how can u say that when team is backing him.u should not speak against a legend.just compare ur career with his.its not even close

— kushal gaddhyan (@kushalgaddhyan) November 10, 2017

@cricketaakash Why everyone keeps pointing at @msdhoni when there are many batsmans struggling with their form#support_msdhoni

— Ninad Waingankar (@ninad2400) November 9, 2017

It's right time for @cricketaakash get retired from Commentary and give youngsters the chance. #DhoniTheKing #T20 #Champion

— Taher Dhanerawala (@dhanerataher) November 9, 2017

@imAagarkar hello ms dhoni is best player and best caption , real me samjha jaye to pahle aap apana record dekho fir msd ki aalochana kero ok

— Vishnu Meena (@VishnuM21455198) November 10, 2017

@imAagarkar dont try to be popular by trolling #msd for their retirement jitna aap 20 ki age mein khelte the usse kahi jada achaa #msd 36 ki age mein khel rahe haii so please stop trolling #MSD..??

— Sandesh singh (@Sandesh0977) November 9, 2017

@imAagarkar comments on @msdhoni truely tells your personality. He is always a master of limited cricket . I think you must respect him. And your comments on dhoni are like local MLA commenting on PM's job

— Shubham kawatra (@kawatra_shubham) November 10, 2017

@imAagarkar Mr. Just keep ur mouth shut u r nothing in front of Dhoni, and you r no1 to comment on his retirement, khud to team mei jgh bna nhi pae logo ke career pe comment krenge..

— ashwani chawla (@ashwanichawla03) November 10, 2017

People who are asking to drop #MSDhoni firstly ask them what they have done for India they were good for nothing like @imAagarkar #akashchopra

— karan (@karanohri1981) November 9, 2017