In the latest revelations, a former BCCI selector recalls having asked MS Dhoni to step down from captaincy back in 2017, despite the legend having led India to innumerable wins across all formats of the game. He emphasised the stunning collaboration between Virat Kohli and Dhoni and also spoke about Dhoni's unwavering support for the fellow youngster.

India have always had the best leaders, who were leaders in the true sense. India have given the cricketing world some gems of captains, like Kapil Dev, the first World Cup-winning India captain; Sourav Ganguly, the man behind shaping modern-day faces of Indian cricket; MS Dhoni, the most successful captain in ICC tournaments; and then their successors.

MS Dhoni passed the baton of the Indian team to the next-generation superstar Virat Kohli, who passed on the vital role to Rohit Sharma, the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy-winning captain. Currently, they have all been sidelined, as Shubman Gill has taken over India captaincy and shares the role with Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is.

MS Dhoni stepped down from Captaincy in 2017

MS Dhoni will always be remembered as one of the most legendary captains from India. Dhoni had ticked all the boxes that were there to be ticked and was the only captain to date to have won all major ICC trophies during his captaincy days.

Under Dhoni, India won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. He had also secured the ICC Test Mace with India in 2009.

MS Dhoni was part of the 2015 World Cup and had led them with fierce dedication and had the same objective in the 2016 T20 World Cup as well, but unfortunately, they were defeated in the semi-finals. This marked an end to Dhoni's 10-year-long journey as the captain of the Indian team.

BCCI Chairman of selectors asked MS Dhoni to step down from his role

Though it was believed that Dhoni would surely have made the call on his own, the first push came from the BCCI chairman of selectors, MSK Prasad, alongside Jatin Paranjpe. They revealed that Dhoni agreed to their terms and immediately called it quits.

“Mahi was batting. He kept batting for an hour, and MSK and I were just looking at each other. We had prepared how to tell him in the most respectful way. So we went to him and said, ‘You know, Mahi, I think it’s the right time to move on.’ So, he told MSK, ‘Anna, this is the perfect decision. Let me know what you want from me. ’

"MSK told him that he will have to put it in writing that you are ready to move on. He said, ‘Alright, I will do it.’ Late at night, we received an email: ‘I would like to step down.’ We had to make this decision. We were criticised for it as well, but these are the tough decisions that you have to take,” Paranjpe said on The Great Cricket Indian Show.

MS Dhoni has faithfully backed Virat Kohli

Following Dhoni's stepping down, he had the back of Virat Kohli, the new Indian skipper. In Dhoni's presence and under his true guidance, Kohli, who had taken up the reins of Test captaincy from the veteran formerly, evolved into a great white-ball captain as well. India, unfortunately, crashed out of the 2019 World Cup after a semi-final defeat to New Zealand.

Paranjpe explained how MS Dhoni often helped him from behind the stumps, while he lent his full support to Kohli and for the betterment of the Indian team.

“He also said Don’t worry. I will work completely with Virat. He is like my brother. I will do everything that is required of me for him. Whatever experience I have, I will give it to him. And we’ll make a good team,” the former selector added.