M. S. Dhoni steps down as India's ODI, T20I captain

M. S. Dhoni has stepped down as India's captain in One-Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals on Wednesday, but is available for selection as a limited-overs player for now.

M. S. Dhoni is available for selection as a player in the upcoming Twenty20s and One-Day Internationals against England.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni stepped down as India’s captain in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) on Wednesday. He, however, is available for selection as a player for now. He informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his decision a day ahead of the selection committee >meeting to finalise the limited-overs squads for ODIs and Twenty20s against England.

In a press release, the BCCI has stated: “Mahendra Singh Dhoni has informed the BCCI, that he wishes to step down as the captain of the Indian Cricket Team from the One Day Internationals and the T20 Internationals formats of the game.”

READ: >Sachin Tendulkar lead sporting fraternity's salutes for Dhoni

Rahul Johri, the Chief Executive Officer of BCCI, said, “On the behalf of every Indian cricket fan and the BCCI, I would like to thank M. S. Dhoni for his outstanding contribution as the captain of the Indian team across all formats. Under his leadership, Indian team has touched new heights and his achievements will remain etched forever in the annals of Indian cricket.”

Dhoni led India in 199 ODIs, won 110 (55.28) and lost 74. He led India in an ODI for the first time against Australia in Bangalore on September 27, 2007 and his last ODI as captain was against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam on October 29, 2016. He led India in 17 World Cup matches in 2011 and 2015.

Dhoni also led India in 72 T20 internationals, won 42 and lost 28. In all he played 73 matches.

Dhoni, who led India to a memorable win in the inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007 and thereafter in the ICC Cricket World Cup in India in 2011, retired from Test cricket after India’s third Test against Australia in Mebourne in December 2014.

Dhoni >joined the Jharkhand team in Nagpur from the first day of its >semifinal against Gujarat on January 1. He trained and had extended net sessions and played the role of a mentor for the team.

On Wednesday morning, he had a long chat with the chairman of the senior national selection committee, M. S. K.Prasad. The second selector who was watching the match here was Jatin Paranjpe.