The transfer of captaincy from Rohit Sharma to Shubman Gill in 2025 has created a lot of debates in the Indian cricket fraternity. A similar transformation took place almost eight years ago when MS Dhoni made Virat Kohli the full-time captain of India across formats in 2017.
Dhoni had resigned as Test captaincy in 2014, but 2017 marked a complete transition. It now appears that the move was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India selection committee, which informed Dhoni of their intention to make changes. He was also asked to formally communicate his decision via email.
Speaking on The Great Indian Cricket Show, former selector Jatin Paranjpe recalled how he and then chief selector MSK Prasad approached Dhoni about the matter.
“Mahi (Dhoni) was batting. He kept batting for an hour and MSK and I just looked at each other. We were ready with how to tell him in the most respectful way. So we went to him and said, ‘You know, Mahi, I think this is the right time to move on’,” Paranjpe said.
According to Paranipet, Dhoni accepted the offer without any resistance.
“He told MSK, ‘Anna, this is a perfect decision. Let me know what you want from me’. MSK told him he had to put it in writing that you’re ready to move on. He said, ‘Okay, I’ll do that’.”
“Late at night, we got an email: ‘I want to resign’. We had to make this decision. We were criticized for it, but these are difficult decisions you have to make,” he added.
Paranipet further revealed that Dhoni assured his full support to Kohli.
“He also said, ‘Don’t worry. I will totally work with Virat. He is like a brother to me. I will do whatever is required of me for him. Whatever experience I have, I will give it to him. We will make a good team’,” Paranipet shared.
Dhoni was 35 at the time and had already achieved everything in white-ball cricket, leading India to the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy.