Dhoni hints at Test retirement

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is not exactly the kind of person who reveals his thoughts easily.

But on a blazing Thursday afternoon, the Indian skipper offered a peak into his mind.
And it didn’t make for a pretty viewing either.

By hinting at giving up one format — Test cricket being the most obvious casualty at this instance — Dhoni revealed that he might be reaching the saturation point while captaining and keeping in all the three formats.

A look at Dhoni’s cobbled together fingers will explain the rationale behind his announcement that he will make a decision about his future by 2013.

“If I want to see the 2015 World Cup, I’ll have to retire from one of the formats.
There’s still time as I am just 30. We will see it by 2013,” Dhoni said.

Earlier, Dhoni had said that he would decide in 2013 whether he would play in 2015 World Cup to be played in Australia and New Zealand. He explained the thought.

“What I really meant was by 2013, I will have to see where I stand when it comes to my body, whether I will be able to survive till the 2015 World Cup. Of course, form is also a factor.

“What I need to see also is, if all of a sudden I feel in 2014 that I can’t survive till the World Cup, then you have a new wicket-keeper for the World Cup who has not played more than 30 international games. So, by end of 2013 I need to decide whether I am fit enough for all formats. It’s not personal interest. What I want is an individual, who is taking my place, with an experience of at least 60 to 100 ODIs going into the World Cup,” he said.

His captaincy in Tests too has come under severe criticism in the last few days after two poor outings against Australia at Melbourne and Sydney. However, Dhoni said criticism was part and parcel of international cricket. “It’s something that you have to take in your stride. It is easier to look from outside, and comment on particular decisions. More often than not you have seen the result, and then comment on it.
It’s something we have to embrace.

“It’s not about taking the best decision because best decision depends on what happens after taking the decision. It’s about taking the good decision at the right time. At times I go wrong, and at times I don’t go wrong. Sometimes people feel I went wrong. It’s part and parcel of leading a side.”