NEW DELHI, Aug 16: Two-time World Cup-winning former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni retired from international cricket on Saturday, ending over one year of suspense and also an era during which his often unorthodox leadership and finishing skills became the stuff of legends.
The 39-year-old will, however, compete in this year�s IPL, which gets under way in the UAE from September 19 after being moved out of India due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
�Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout. from 1929hrs consider me as retired,� Dhoni posted on his Instagram handle.
The announcement came a day after he joined his Chennai Super kings team-mates at the side�s home base for a short training camp ahead of the players� departure to the UAE next week.
The BCCI sent out a statement, detailing each one of his historic achievements and lauding �a legacy that will be difficult to replicate.� Board president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah paid rich tributes.
�It is the end of an era. What a player he has been for the country and world cricket... He will finish with no regrets on the field,� said Ganguly.
�He is leaving the game richer from the time he joined,� added Shah.
The Board also stated that Dhoni �changed the face of Indian cricket with his calm demeanour, sharp understanding of the game and astute leadership qualities.�
His last outing in India colours was during the lost World Cup semifinal against New Zealand in July last year.
One of the best runners between the wickets was run out following a hard-earned 50 in that tense game, shattering Indian hopes and leaving him in a state of disbelief.
Ever since he went on a sabbatical after that match, speculation raged over his future but he stoically avoided a response for over a year.
The reticent man from Ranchi will, however, go down as one of the finest to have played the game for India, turning up for the country in a whopping 350 ODIs, 90 Tests and 98 T20 Internationals.
The last leg of his career was, however, marred by a drop in form, prompting several critics to question his resolve to continue.
But he nevertheless signs off as an ODI legend with 10,773 runs, averaging more than 50 despite batting between No. 5 and 7 for a major chunk of his career.
In the Test format, from which he retired in 2014, Dhoni accumulated 4876 runs at an average of 38.09 and led India to more wins (27) than anyone else before him. � PTI
NEW DELHI, Aug 16: Two-time World Cup-winning former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni retired from international cricket on Saturday, ending over one year of suspense and also an era during which his often unorthodox leadership and finishing skills became the stuff of legends.
The 39-year-old will, however, compete in this year�s IPL, which gets under way in the UAE from September 19 after being moved out of India due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
�Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout. from 1929hrs consider me as retired,� Dhoni posted on his Instagram handle.
The announcement came a day after he joined his Chennai Super kings team-mates at the side�s home base for a short training camp ahead of the players� departure to the UAE next week.
The BCCI sent out a statement, detailing each one of his historic achievements and lauding �a legacy that will be difficult to replicate.� Board president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah paid rich tributes.
�It is the end of an era. What a player he has been for the country and world cricket... He will finish with no regrets on the field,� said Ganguly.
�He is leaving the game richer from the time he joined,� added Shah.
The Board also stated that Dhoni �changed the face of Indian cricket with his calm demeanour, sharp understanding of the game and astute leadership qualities.�
His last outing in India colours was during the lost World Cup semifinal against New Zealand in July last year.
One of the best runners between the wickets was run out following a hard-earned 50 in that tense game, shattering Indian hopes and leaving him in a state of disbelief.
Ever since he went on a sabbatical after that match, speculation raged over his future but he stoically avoided a response for over a year.
The reticent man from Ranchi will, however, go down as one of the finest to have played the game for India, turning up for the country in a whopping 350 ODIs, 90 Tests and 98 T20 Internationals.
The last leg of his career was, however, marred by a drop in form, prompting several critics to question his resolve to continue.
But he nevertheless signs off as an ODI legend with 10,773 runs, averaging more than 50 despite batting between No. 5 and 7 for a major chunk of his career.
In the Test format, from which he retired in 2014, Dhoni accumulated 4876 runs at an average of 38.09 and led India to more wins (27) than anyone else before him. � PTI
