Quitting Tests May Hurt Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Future as Team India Captain: Kapil Dev

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's future as a Team India player continues to perplex the greats of the game and that includes Kapil Dev. Dhoni quit Test cricket after the Boxing Day contest in Melbourne last year. He will be back in Australia in January for a series of overs-limited matches as captain of a young and experienced Indian team. (Kapil Dev, V.V.S. Laxman Speak on India's Chances in Australia)

Dhoni has run hot and cold in the 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy. He has had limited success as ODI and T20I skipper this year, having lost a series in Bangladesh and more recently, versus South Africa at home. With Virat Kohli emerging with flying colours as a Test captain, questions on Dhoni's future were obvious.

Two former captains have contrasting views on Dhoni's value and future as a national player. While Kapil Dev told NDTV that Dhoni may be short on motivation having quit the longer format of the game, Sourav Ganguly feels "Dhoni has a few years of cricket left in him" and it was premature to think of a new captain (read Kohli) for the 2019 World Cup in England. (Mahendra Singh Dhoni Has Lot of Cricket Left in Him: Sourav Ganguly)

Captain till World T20 in March-April

To end all speculations on Dhoni's future, the Indian cricket Board (BCCI) last week categorically stated that the 2011-World Cup winning superstar, who has won all ICC trophies, will lead India in the ICC World T20 in India in March-April, 2016.

But what after that? India are scheduled to play 12 Tests at home next year and will it prudent to have two captains for a team whose core is common for all three formats of the game?

The 1983 World Cup-winning Kapil Dev is not sure about Dhoni's future.

"He is a very sorted person. We can't read his mind but I don't think news stories will make an impact on Dhoni," Kapil said in an interview on Wednesday, hinting that Dhoni knows when to bow out of international cricket.

With the talented Kohli lurking and growing in experience as a leader, Kapil feels that a person who can play all the formats stands a better chance to skipper Team India.

'Difficult to Motivate'

"When you stop playing Test cricket, it is very tough to carry on playing and keep your momentum going. Dhoni's fitness will key, he is not short on ability but when you stop playing one format, then it is very difficult to motivate yourself," said Kapil.

Ganguly does not think quitting Test cricket will put Dhoni's India career in jeopardy. Ganguly feels Dhoni has the credentials to lead and his lofty standards are difficult to match. Kohli certainly has to wait for his turn, indicated the former skipper.

"One will have to work hard and perform well to reach the level of Dhoni, who has set a high standard in the cricket arena," Ganguly said.

The World T20 will be interesting times for Indian cricket and particularly, Dhoni. If India fail under Dhoni's captaincy, the knives will be out and Kohli will be sensing his chance. Cricket can be a cruel game because nobody remembers the past. The present is important.