Ravi Shastri reveals reason behind MS Dhoni's Test retirement

Colombo, Aug 28: India's team director Ravi Shastri has revealed the real reason for MS Dhoni's sudden retirement from Test cricket in December last year.

After the 3rd Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on December 30, 2014, Dhoni had stunned all by announcing that he was quitting the 5-day format with immediate effect, in the middle of the series Down Under.

His decision was conveyed to the world by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) through a press release. However, the man himself was not available to talk about it.

Now, in Colombo, Shastri has give reasons for Dhoni walking away from white ball cricket. "I think that was one of the reasons (Virat Kohli was ready to lead) why MS (Dhoni) decided to quit. He realised that there are 3 formats of the game and that it is becoming hard for him. But at the same time, he knew there was someone ready," Shastri told reporters yesterday (Thursday) ahead of India's series-deciding 3rd Test against Sri Lanka.

"If you think back, you will know why he made that decision. It was a good decision because it was clear in everyone's mind, across the media, that this (Virat Kohli) is your future captain and let him captain in that last Test match in Australia so that all speculation goes to rest, because India weren't playing (a Test) for another 6 to 7 months.

"That speculation of who is going to captain. You know the obvious choice was Virat (Kohli) but by announcing his retirement, he made it clear that I believe this guy is ready and he needs a run," Shastri added.

Dhoni is still the captain in ODIs and T20Is. After Test retirement, he led the ODI side to the semi-finals of ICC World Cup 2015 where they lost to eventual champions and hosts Australia.

OneIndia News