An open letter to Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Dear Mahendra Singh Dhoni,

Words just aren’t sufficient to describe the contribution you’ve made to the Indian cricket team. Two World Cups, Champions Trophy and World No. 1 in all the three formats of the game – these were just dreams until you stepped up and led the Indian team. I always admired you for the way you handled pressure and got things off your mind. You, in a way, inspired me.

In limited overs cricket, right from that knock in Jaipur where you tore apart Sri Lankan bowlers to breeze through 183 runs till that 113 in Chepauk vs Pakistan (my favourite knock of yours), everything has just been in your favour, and we’re happy that everything keeps falling in the right place.

20 off 6 balls required and you’re on strike, I wouldn’t be on the edge of my seat because I know you’d finish it off with a ball to spare. Such is the impact you’ve created. We’re lucky you’re born in India. I really wish you remain in the ODI team until the 2019 WC.

But when it comes to Tests, what can I say? It’s all been exactly the opposite. Everyone knows Tests aren’t your cup of coffee, and the stats say so. Yes, the team rose in the rankings, but what was your contribution? Nil? No, let me have some heart and say ‘almost nil’.

Your poor form continued, but it wasn’t under scanner as long as the team was winning. But now, out of the 18 Tests played overseas, India has lost 15. Few captains have ever had such an extended run of failure in their career. But considering your name – ‘MS Dhoni’ – no one ever complained against your poor form and captaincy.

Instead, seniors were blamed. You said the seniors weren’t doing well in the field and came up with one of the worst strategies ever. Yes, I’m talking about the rotation policy. And what happened next? Failure. And yet again, you weren’t blamed.

Only after running out of options to blame someone did the spotlight finally come upon you. But then came the legendary 224 against the Aussies on the flattest track cricket has ever seen in Chepauk, which literally saved your test career. Nevertheless, it was a great knock.

Back again in overseas conditions, the string of failures continues and now, the stats say you have the lowest average among India’s batsmen in the past three years (well, some bowlers like Ashwin have a better average, too). I don’t think any player with an average of just above 26 in four years will be retained.

Yes, we do know you don’t want to leave the team at its lowest point, but it’s time you realized that you’re just being a burden to this side. Virat Kohli has enough potential to lead the side and he has performed under the pressure of captaincy too.

Get everything off your mind and just think about this. If you weren’t MS Dhoni and were leading the side, would you retain someone like MS Dhoni in the Test team? Be honest and make a call, because that’s what the team needs most desperately.

- An Indian cricket team lover