Legendary Indian captain MS Dhoni surprised everyone by announcing his Test retirement in the middle of Border Gavaskar Trophy 2014-15. Interestingly, all-rounder Axar Patel got his maiden Test call-up during that series only and Dhoni pulled Patel’s leg after saying goodbye to the longest format of the game.
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Dhoni revealed that he won’t be playing red-ball cricket anymore after the third Test in Melbourne. He was not a part of the first Test of the series as well. After Dhoni’s departure, former India captain Virat Kohli was named the skipper of the side. Wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha was slotted in as Dhoni’s replacement.
Talking to Delhi Capitals in a video, Patel revealed that he landed in Australia just a day before Dhoni’s announcement. He said that everyone got very emotional and he could not understand what to do as it was just his second day with all the senior players. Patel met Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings captain was at his hilarious best.
How MS Dhoni Pulled Axar Patel’s Leg After Announcing Test Retirement
Patel was roped in as a replacement for all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja who got injured during the series. He revealed that Dhoni joked about how Patel’s arrival led to his farewell. As a newbie, Patel cried after the same. Dhoni then hugged him and ended his prank.
“It was the Boxing Day Test and I arrived the very day as Jaddu [Ravindra Jadeja] got injured midway. I remember this because Mahi bhai [MS Dhoni] announced his retirement the next day. He said to me, ‘Bapu, aate he mera thank you kar diya [Bapu, you arrived and made me leave]’,” Patel had said.
“Then he said, ‘Don’t worry, I am joking.’ And then he hugged me.”
After being picked in the Test squad in 2014, Patel had to wait till 2021 to make his red-ball debut for the national team. In 12 Tests so far, he has scalped 50 wickets, whereas he has scored 513 runs with the bat as well. He even won the Player of the Series award in his debut series against England where he picked 27 wickets across three Tests.
Team India’s new era in Test started after MS Dhoni’s retirement
After Dhoni’s departure, Kohli led India in the final Test in Sydney where he scored a brilliant century in the first innings. After that match, Kohli said that he wants this Indian team to dominate in the next four-five years. India’s performance under Dhoni’s leadership in SENA countries was dreadful.
Under Kohli, India’s reputation grew leaps and bounds in the longest format of the game. Kohli became the most successful Indian Test captain where the team won 40 out of 68 matches with a winning percentage of 58.82%.
