Mahendra Singh Dhoni Stopped Adding Value to Test Team, Says Mohinder Amarnath

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's sudden decision to retire from Test cricket has been received with mixed response from fans and experts alike. Former India cricketer and selector Mohinder Amarnath felt Dhoni stopped adding value to the Test team in the last two years.

"I felt that Dhoni was simply not doing enough justice to his talent and also was not adding enough value to the Test team in the last two years. You really can't control the game or lead from front in a Test if you are batting at No. 7. Gradually, his captaincy lost all flair and aggression, especailly abroad," Amarnath wrote in his column in the Times of India. (Dhoni's retirement evokes mixed reaction in Jharkhand)

Dhoni started his career with great aplomb as a free-spirited wicketkeeper-batsman and soon ascended into captaincy in all formats of the game. Under his leadership, India reached the pinnacle in Test cricket, earning the No. 1 Test ranking for the first time ever in 2009. (Dhoni's roller coaster Test ride ends)

"He had some great performances, particularly at home, and has won a couple of games off his bat. When he took over the reins of captaincy, he had a magnificent team that did really well in India and also reasonably well abroad. The personnel he had at his disposal made him a successful captain and India rose to top of Test rankings," Amarnath wrote. (A career overview of MS Dhoni)

Dhoni played 90 Tests for India, leading the team in 60 of them. He emerged as the captain with most Test wins (27), beating the previous best held by Sourav Ganguly (21). Yet, poor overseas performances proved to be a big blot on his career as a captain. Under his captaincy, India lost as many as 15 out of 30 Tests. The draw vs Australia at MCG on Tuesday ensured India conceded another Test series abroad, sixth under his captaincy. ('Dhoni didn't quit in haste, he was cool about it')

"This decision gives a hint that he finally gave in to the intense scrutiny that his captaincy had been subjected to for the last couple of years," Amarnath wrote. (Dhoni knew Kohli was ready for Test captaincy: Gavaskar)

At 33, Dhoni walks away from the longest format of the game with motivation to enhance his numbers in coloured clothing and his eyes firmly set on retaining the World Cup Down Under in February 2015. (Dhoni's captaincy cannot be measured in words: Gavaskar)