MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – India captain Madendra Singh Dhoni retired from Test cricket today, ending a 90-Test career shortly after his side drew the third match with Australia.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Dhoni’s decision on Twitter, adding that Virat Kohli would captain India in the fourth Test starting next Tuesday in Sydney.
The 33-year-old Dhoni, was captained the team 60 times, made no mention of his intention to retire during a lengthy and jovial news conference immediately after today’s match.
In a later statement, the BCCI said Dhoni has retired from Test cricket to concentrate on the shorter limited-overs and Twenty20 formats of the game.
“One of India’s greatest Test captains under whose leadership India became the No. 1 team in the Test rankings, M.S. Dhoni, has decided to retire from Test cricket citing the strain of playing all formats of cricket,” the statement said.
Dhoni was batting on 24 at the end of the third Test as he helped hold off the Australian bowling attack to earn the draw.
He has come under increasing scrutiny for his captaincy in the series against Australia, which the home side clinched Tuesday with a 2-0 lead.
A wicketkeeper-batsman, Dhoni made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Chennai in 2005, a year after playing his first one-dayer. He has since scored 4 876 runs at an average of 38.09 with six centuries and 33 half-centuries.
Dhoni has also taken 256 catches and 38 stumpings, as well as becoming the first Indian wicketkeeper to take nine dismissals in a match – achieved in the just completed third Test.
Dhoni took over from Rahul Dravid as India captain in 2007 and led the side to 27 wins, 18 losses and 15 draws.
