Former India captain MS Dhoni is set to don the Chennai Super Kings jersey once again in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League, much to the delight of fans.
As IPL 2026 draws closer, an interesting story from the national selection room has resurfaced. Speaking on The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan, former India selector Jatin Paranjpe recalled the tense moment when the committee informed Dhoni that his tenure as India’s white-ball captain was coming to an end.
Paranjpe, who represented India in four international matches, described the nervousness surrounding the conversation.
“Mahi was batting for about an hour, and MSK [Prasad] and I were just looking at each other. We had prepared how to speak to him respectfully. We went to him and said, ‘Mahi, we think it’s the right time to move on.’”
When Dhoni Was Asked to Step Down as India Captain
Instead of resisting the move, Dhoni responded with remarkable grace and selflessness. Paranjpe revealed:
“Dhoni told MSK, ‘Anna, this is a perfect decision. What do you want from me?’ MSK said he would need it in writing. That night, I received the email. He also said, ‘Don’t worry, I will work with Chiku [Virat Kohli] completely. He’s like a brother to me.’”
Dhoni stepped down from India’s ODI and T20I captaincy in early 2017, paving the way for Virat Kohli to take over leadership across formats.
Paranjpe admitted the decision attracted heavy criticism at the time.
“We were criticised a lot. But these are the tough decisions you have to take.”
By then, Dhoni had already cemented his legacy as one of India’s greatest captains, leading the team to triumphs in the ICC T20 World Cup, the ICC Cricket World Cup, and the ICC Champions Trophy. Kohli later guided India in the 2019 ODI World Cup in England, continuing the leadership transition that began in 2017.
The anecdote once again underlines Dhoni’s calm leadership style and his willingness to put the team’s future above personal milestones.
