hero-image

"Please don't do this" - When Sachin Tendulkar refused captaincy and suggested MS Dhoni's name

Under MS Dhoni, India lifted the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007. However, a few months before that, Indian cricket was in turmoil after the side's disastrous exit from the ODI World Cup in the West Indies. Rahul Dravid, who led the team in the Caribbean, was not willing to continue as captain for much longer in the Test and ODI formats.

Some Indian selectors suggested that Sachin Tendulkar should be made captain again. The batting legend, however, refused and instead suggested Dhoni's name to then BCCI President Sharad Pawar.

In March 2008, an ESPNcricinfo report quoted Pawar as confirming that Tendulkar had indeed recommended Dhoni's name as captain.

"Rahul had told me he could not concentrate on his game and requested me to find someone else. Some of the selectors wanted Sachin to lead and I conveyed it to him. But Sachin said, 'please don't do this'," Pawar said.
"I asked then who should lead the side and he said 'give it to someone like Dhoni'. He said 'give Dhoni the opportunity. He has excellent relations with the team-mates'. I told him I would not interfere but would definitely convey it to the selectors," Pawar added.

The then BCCI chief also revealed that Tendulkar batted for youngsters to be picked in the Indian squad for the 2007 T20 World Cup, which the Men in Blue went on to win. Recalling his interaction with the cricket legend, Pawar said:

"I was in England when we were playing them. Sachin met me and suggested 'I know you don't interfere with the team selection but you please tell the selectors not to include players of my generation in the Twenty20 squad'. He said 'my generation is not fit for Twenty20, so give opportunity to the youngsters'."

Dravid resigned as India's captain in September 2007, paving the way for Dhoni to take over as all-format leader.


MS Dhoni's record as India's captain across formats

Dhoni led India in 60 Test matches, winning 27 and losing 18, while 15 games ended in a draw. In ODIs, the keeper-batter led the Men in Blue in exactly 200 matches, winning 110 and losing 74. Further, five matches ended in a draw, while 11 produced no result. Under him, India won the 2011 World Cup at home and the 2013 Champions Trophy in England.

Finally, looking at his record as captain in T20Is, he led India in 72 matches out of which the team won 41 and lost 28. One game ended in a tie, while two produced no result. Apart from the win in 2007 World Cup, the Men in Blue were runners-up in 2014 and semifinalists in 2016.

You may also like