‘Exercised all my authority’: Srinivasan on saving Dhoni’s captaincy

Srinivasan said he used his power to retain Dhoni as the captain of the ODI side

srinivasan-dhoni N. Srinivasan; Mahendra Singh Dhoni | PTI; Salil Bera

Former BCCI president N. Srinivasan has revealed that he “exercised all my authority” as the board chief to save Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s captaincy in 2011, despite India winning the ICC World Cup that year.

After India lost the Test series to Australia 0-4 in during the 2011-2012 tour, Dhoni’s captaincy was questioned, with the selection committee deciding to drop the wicket-keeper batsman from the leadership role in the upcoming ODI series without even zeroing in on a replacement.

However, Srinivasan said he used his power to retain Dhoni as the captain of the side.

“This was 2011. India had won the World Cup. And in Australia, we didn’t do well in the Tests. So, one of the selectors wanted to remove him (Dhoni) as the ODI captain. The point is, how do you remove him as the ODI captain? He had won the World Cup. They (selectors) had not even thought of who would be his replacement. There was a discussion and then I said there was no way in which he would not be a player,” Srinivasan told the Indian Express.

“In fact, it was a holiday. I was playing golf. I came back. Sanjay Jagdale was the (BCCI) secretary at that time and he said, ‘Sir, they (selectors) are refusing to choose the captain. They will take him (Dhoni) in the team’. I came and said MS Dhoni (would be the captain). I exercised all my authority as the (BCCI) president,” the former ICC chairman said.

As per the BCCI constitution back then, the Board president’s approval was needed for team selections. With the reforms laid out by the Lodha panel kicking in, the chief selector was given the power to take final call on selection matters.

Srinivasan said that he was glad to have stood his ground back then, adding that it was unfair to drop him as captain after he led the Indian team to its second World Cup title months ago.

“See, there was apparently some prejudice somewhere, which reflected. He has won the World Cup for you. After 1983, India won it again and you say, ‘I don’t want him to be the ODI captain’! Left to them (selectors), they might have (dropped him). I don’t know. I think that was most unfair and I am glad that I stood my ground,” Srinivasan said.

Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on Saturday, and Srinivasan called him an exceptional person and cricketer.

“Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an exceptional person, exceptional cricketer and a very, very fair person. I have had the privilege of knowing him, moving with him for over a decade. I have in my lifetime met and seen great cricketers, people who had great cricketing skills. MS is an exception. He only thought of India and the team he played for,” Srinivasan said.

Dhoni will be seen in the upcoming Indian Premier League, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates from September 19 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He will lead Chennai Super Kings, aiming for its fourth IPL title. The inaugural match of the 13th edition of the IPL will be played between CSK and Mumbai Indians.

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