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When MS Dhoni offered to quit India captaincy after team boss asked him to drop Virat Kohli | Cricket News

Posted on by angelo

Former Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal recently recalled how MS Dhoni saved Virat Kohli from being dropped from the Indian team by offering to step down as captain and retire himself in 2013. Dhoni and Kohli share a strong bond on and off the field and the former India captain had a huge role to play in the star batsman’s successful career.

When MS Dhoni offered to quit India captaincy after team manager asked him to drop Virat Kohli

MS Dhoni offered to step down as captain when asked to drop Virat Kohli. (Photo: Getty Images)

New Delhi: The strong bond between former Indian captain MS Dhoni and current Indian team star Virat Kohli is no secret. Kohli made his debut for India under Dhoni’s captaincy in 2008 and became one of the great modern players thanks to his support. One of the best batsmen in the world today, Kohli announced his retirement from T20Is after helping India win the 2024 T20 World Cup title.

Kohli starred with a 76-run knock as India beat South Africa in the final to win their second T20 World Cup title. Speaking on a Pakistani show after India’s win, former Pakistan batter Umar Akmal made a sensational revelation by sharing an interesting anecdote about Dhoni and Kohli. Akmal claimed that Dhoni had offered to quit the captaincy and give up himself when he was asked to give up Kohli once.

Recalling the 2013 incident, Akmal said the then Indian team manager asked Dhoni not to play Kohli in the next match and remove the star batter from the team. However, Dhoni, who was the captain at the time, opposed the move and offered to retire himself. Akmal revealed that Dhoni had asked the team manager to also book a ticket for him along with Kohli so that the duo could return home together.

“We were having dinner. Dhoni, Raina, Yuvraj Singh and even Shoaib Malik were present. We had won the series and there was a lot of pressure on Virat Kohli as he had not had success in the series. The manager came to Dhoni and told him not to face Virat in the last international match. I looked at Dhoni and he said okay. I haven’t been home for six months; Raina will be captain. Book two tickets for Virat and me,” Akmal said on Pakistani show Hasna Mana Hai.

“The manager struggled for words and finally said, ‘Please continue with Kohli,’” he said. “I was stunned and asked Dhoni why he had responded to the manager like that. Then Dhoni explained that Virat was the best player and just because he was going through a tough time for three matches, he should not be left out.

Dhoni said it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play in one more match. But he will be the captain of India in the future. And Kohli became the captain of India,” Akmal added.

Watch Umar Akmal’s anecdote on Dhoni and Kohli:

Akmal’s comments came ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 final between India and South Africa, where Kohli scored a brilliant 76-run knock to help the Men in Blue win the trophy. His comments highlighted the kind of support Dhoni gave to Kohli during the initial stages of his career, when he experienced many ups and downs when it came to his form.

Kohli himself has admitted many times in the past how Dhoni supported him during his tough times and ensured that he was not sidelined. Dhoni’s faith in Kohli eventually paid off as the batter went on to become a world-class player and a modern-day great. Dhoni also handed over the Indian Test captaincy to Kohli in 2014 before handing over the baton in white-ball cricket to him in 2017.

Virat Kohli retires from T20I in style

Kohli announced his retirement from T20Is after India’s victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa. He bid farewell to the shortest format after winning his maiden T20 World Cup crown. Kohli is also currently the second highest run scorer of all time in the shortest format with 4188 runs in 125 matches at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of over 137, including 38 fifties and 1 century.