MS Dhoni was upset lately, says former coach Chanchal Bhattacharya

Bhattacharya remembers how Dhoni had asked whether he should give up cricket when he was not selected for the Under-19 tour to Kenya.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect and his first coach Chanchal Bhattacharyya confessed that the decision came at the right time.

Speaking about the retirement, Bhattacharyya was quoted as saying by ABP News, “I think the decision has come at a right time. He has helped India salvage a draw in Melbourne, and for a captain this is perhaps the ideal time to leave the game.”

Bhattachrya revealed how Dhoni would watch seniors practice at nets.

“That’s what made him special. He has always been passionate about the game, and even after being dropped from the India U-19 team’s tour to Kenya, he made it to the national side. Not everybody can do that,” Bhattacharyya said.

“Lately he was a little upset with whatever was happening. The media too went after him, and perhaps, that hurt him. He had told me on a few occasions, that he would quit Test cricket. And, this was it,” Bhattacharya said.

Bhattacharya remembers how Dhoni had asked whether he should give up cricket when he was not selected for the Under-19 tour to Kenya. “He came up to me and asked me what should be done. We worked together, and then, the rest is history,” Bhattacharyya said.

“All this while, he has guided the team like a guardian. But now, the onus will be on youngsters. The stumpers like Wriddhiman Saha and Naman Ojha would be tested too,” he concluded.

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