Mahendra Singh Dhoni Should Have Announced Retirement After Series: Erapalli Prasanna

Spin great Erapalli Prasanna on Tuesday said Mahendra Singh Dhoni was captain par excellence as he took the Indian cricket team to the highest level in all forms of the game by winning the T20 and ODI World Cup, besides taking the Test side to the coveted number one spot.(Dhoni Quits Test Cricket)

"Tiger Pataudi and Saurav Ganguly had the qualities of building teams, but Dhoni took the team the highest pinnacle we were number one in Tests besides being ODI and T20 World Champions," he told PTI here after Dhoni hung his boots from the longest format.

Dhoni, after India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to Australia at Melbourne, announced his retirement from Tests, citing strain of playing all formats. India is trailing 0-2 in the four-match series after Tuesday's draw.('Dhoni Knew Kohli Was Ready')

Virat Kohli will lead the side in the fourth and final match in Sydney.

Prasanna said Dhoni may not be a flamboyant and creative captain like Pataudi and Ganguly, but he had the qualities inherent subtly. "Dhoni may not show the flamboyance and creativity of captaincy onfield like Pataudi and Ganguly, but he subtly displayed these qualities on the field," he added.(Tendulkar Leads Tributes on Dhoni)

Asked how does he rates Kohli as the captain, Prasanna said the Delhi-based player is an "absolute combo" of Ganguly and Dhoni, but he should be a little diplomatic, which is very vital for any captain.

"Kohli has all the aggressive qualities of Dhoni and Ganguly, but he should learn to be diplomatic, which is vital for any international captain. It is good to be aggressive with his teammates in the dressing room, but not against the opponents - on the field," he said.

Prasanna said Dhoni's retirement from Tests came as a surprise because usually captains hang their shoes at the end of a series but he did it before the final Test in Sydney.

"It came as a surprise to me. Usually captains hang their boots after a series," he said.

Prasanna said Dhoni should have announced his retirement after the Sydney Test as that way he could have guided Virat Kohli in the final match of the series.

"However, I do not want to take the charm of Kohli away as he is also a good captain as he has shown in the first Test against Australia," he added.

Former India cricketer Ashok Malhotra along with Bengal cricketers Manoj Tiwary and Ashok Dinda say Dhoni's retirement has opened up a big door of opportunity for Wriddhiman Saha.

"It's quite unexpected. Never thought, he would call it a day in the middle of a series, don't know what prompted him to take the call. He could have announced it after the series. But it's a good opportunity for wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. Hope he does well to cement his place in the side."

Malhotra was also of the view that Virat Kohli will do justice to the job as Dhoni's replacement at the helm.

"Virat Kohli is a matured cricketer. Nothing is too early in life at some point you have to start, I'm quite hopeful that he would do well in future."

Manoj Tiwary said,"Obviously, it's surprising. Any cricketer is judged by the results so MS is right up in the ladder. I wish him all the best. He backs his players a lot. Wriddhiman Saha has now got a good chance, he has to perform well."

Paceman Ashok Dinda said Dhoni's decision was "so unexpected."

"He has been a great team man and mixed well with the players. But at the same time, this will give our state mate Saha an opening. Wish Saha all the best."