N Srinivasan didn’t allow MS Dhoni to be sacked as India captain, says former selector Raja Venkat
N Srinivasan didn't allow MS Dhoni to be sacked as India captain, says former selector Raja Venkat
Former East Zone selector Raja Venkat in shocking revelation came out in public to expose one of Indian cricket’s best-kept secret. Back in 2012, MS Dhoni’s ODI captaincy would have ended had it not been for N Srinivasan and Virat Kohli would not had to wait three years to lead India. Venkat was the selector from 2008-2012.
In his column for Bengali daily Ebela, Venkat wrote, “It was a four-Test series in Australia in 2011-12 and after India had lost the first three matches, we decided that a change of guard was necessary.”
“Mohinder Amarnath and Narendra Hirwani (then selectors from North Zone and Central Zone respectively) had accompanied the team Down Under and upon their return they reported that there were several factions within the team. Team spirit had hit rock bottom. We wanted someone who could restore unity in the team. Virat was our choice, for he was not into any faction and had also brilliantly led North Zone to the 2010-11 Deodhar Trophy title. Before that he had impressed as the captain of India Under-19 team.”
India’s tour to Australia 2012 was pretty disastrous. India were whitewashed 0-4. Following which the selectors met and passed a unanimous decision.
“You’ve to respect what he has written. I haven’t gone through it, but I hope details are there. For my part, I don’t want to add anything. I will say, when I’ve to say (about it),” Amarnath was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
Venkat said, “We had unanimously decided to bring in a new captain. We believed Dhoni’s time was up and Virat should take over. We had met to pick the squad for the ODI leg of the tour, but as per the BCCI constitution, we couldn’t announce the team for an overseas series without the president’s consent. Srinivasan just didn’t allow us to make the change and replace Dhoni.”
The story goes that the then chief of BCCI, Srinivasan, was busy playing golf when the then-secretary Sanjay Jagdale informed him about the selectors’ decision. Surprised Srinivasan asked Jagdale to put a hold on the announcement. Few hours later, he arrived and refused to allow the changes. Everyone what happened next, Amarnath was removed in the next Annual General Meeting. Jagdale refused to comment on the issue, after resigning from the position in the wake of IPL 2013 spot-fixing controversy.
“Three years down the line, our decision has been vindicated. We wanted to make him (Kohli) India captain three years ago, but N Srinivasan played spoilsport. Virat is a terrific batsman, excellent team man and a fighter. He will help India unfold a new chapter,” Venkat wrote.