India's 33 years Most successful Test captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect following the drawn Test against Australia at the Melbourne. He finished with most 27 Test wins as skipper, beating the previous best of 21 wins by Sourav Ganguly. MS Dhoni played 90 Test matches for India and led 60 matches. He won 21 matches at home out of 30 and won 6 matches away out of 30 matches he capted.
Dhoni played 90 Tests for India with 4876 runs averaging 38.09 and strike rates of 59.11. He made 33 fifties and 6 centuries as batsman. He took 256 catches and 38 stumpings behind stump as wicket keeper.
Under MS Dhoni's leadership India became the No.1 team in the Test rankings. India have won the 50-over World Cup in 2011 and the World Twenty20 on his captaincy in 2007. Specially, 2011 worldcup which Dhoni sealed with a timely 91 and his patented helicopter shot.
A BCCI statement said: “One of India's greatest Test captains under whose leadership India became the No.1 team in the Test rankings Dhoni, has decided to retire from Test cricket citing the strain of playing all formats of cricket. Dhoni has chosen to retire from Tests with immediate effect in order to concentrate on ODIs and T20 formats.
"BCCI, while respecting the decision of Dhoni to retire from Test cricket, wishes to thank him for his enormous contribution to Tests and the laurels that he has brought to India."
In his final series in Australia, Dhoni became the first Indian wicketkeeper to effect 9 dismissals in a Test match in Melbourne.
Overall, MS Dhoni became the third wicketkeeper to achieve the feat versus Australia, the first two being David Murray (West Indies) at Melbourne in December 1981 and Ridley Jacobs (West Indies) at Melbourne in December 2000.
With the bat, MS Dhoni also became the first Indian batsman to complete 10,000 runs or more as captain in international cricket, joining Ricky Ponting (15440), Graeme Smith (14878), Stephen Fleming (11561) and Allan Border (11062).
Virat Kohli will captain India in the fourth and final Test against Australia in Sydney from January 6. India have already lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy having lost the first two Tests in Adelaide and Brisbane.
Cricketer's Comments
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"well done on a wonderful career in test cricket @msdhoni. Always enjoyed playing together. Next target 2015 WC my friend!!"
-Sachin Tendulkar (Former Indian cricketer)
"A great competitor, and someone who I think Indian cricket owes a lot to."
-Ricky Ponting (Former Australia captain)
"Valiant while you led. Valiant in your departure"
-Suresh Raina (Indian Cricketer)
"Great career MSD @msdhoni retired as captain. Way 2 go! Well done buddy on a fantastic test inning! Good luck!"
-Anil Kumble (Former Indian Cricketer)
"Congrats Dhoni bhai on your wonderful journey of test cricket.. You will be surely missed"
-R Vinay Kumar (Indian Cricketer)
"My best wishes go with u..may u have days full of laughter and happiness.we will miss u in test cricket captain cool"
-Umesh Yadav (Indian Cricketer)
