Mahendra Singh Dhoni took the rare step of declaring himself unavailable for India’s tour of Sri Lanka where they will play three Test matches starting later this month.
He will however, be available for the five-match one-day international series that immediately follow the Tests.
In Indian cricket, where more often than not injuries are concealed or glossed over to make team for the next series, this is almost an unprecedented step. Yet the indications have been in the air for some time that the dasher from Ranchi was getting badly overstretched.
One-day international and Twenty20 captain Dhoni has been in non-stop action over the past year and more and even midway through the Asia Cup in Pakistan, had indicated that some thought needed to go into the scheduling of matches since the workload on players had increased steadily.
His outburst in Karachi quickly received support from India coach Gary Kirsten.
On Mumbai on Tuesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s administrator, Prof Ratnakar Shetty confirmed that Dhoni had sought the break.
"Yes, he has told the board that he would like to rest for the Test series against Sri Lanka," Shetty said soon after the Test team for the Lanka series and the probables for the Champions Trophy were named. The board put one a one-liner on his absence from the Test squad.
"M.S. Dhoni had conveyed his request to skip the Test series to the selectors. He has accordingly been rested for the series," the BCCI said in a statement after the selection committee meeting.
In a sense, it was only to be expected.
Dhoni has been on the field non-stop since leading India to the T20 world championship. Even before that he was on the victorious tour of England and since returning from South Africa, where India beat Pakistan in the T20 final.
That was followed by home series against South Africa and Pakistan and long and gruelling tour of Australia, where he led the side to a first-ever ODI win Down Under.
The Indian Premier League will have taken its toll as well where he led the Chennai Super Kings all the way to the finals, playing all their 16 matches.
Reacting to the ODI skipper’s stand that players needed a break, the BCCI said that cricketers were welcome to stand down if they so desired. Dhoni quickly took the opportunity. "In India and the sub-continent in general, we have a full year of cricket and there’s no off-season," he said.
"It’s tough for cricketers. When we want rest, we should get it.
"The Indian board has said we can take a break whenever we want, which I think is a very good policy," he said.
Since 2007, Dhoni has appeared in 14 Test matches, 56 ODIs and eight T20 internationals, all adding up to a whopping four and a half months of time on the field in just over 18 months.
In his absence, Dinesh Karthik is likely to be the number one wicketkeeper, though Parthiv Patel has also been included in the side, to be led by Anil Kumble, Karthik last played in the third Test at Bangalore against Pakistan in December, which Dhoni had to skip with an ankle injury.
The Tamil Nadu gloveman has been used as an opener in Test matches in Bangladesh and England last year, and in the home Tests against Pakistan.
He was in the squad for the Australia tour, but sat out all four Tests.
Courtesy : www.asianage.com
He will however, be available for the five-match one-day international series that immediately follow the Tests.
In Indian cricket, where more often than not injuries are concealed or glossed over to make team for the next series, this is almost an unprecedented step. Yet the indications have been in the air for some time that the dasher from Ranchi was getting badly overstretched.
One-day international and Twenty20 captain Dhoni has been in non-stop action over the past year and more and even midway through the Asia Cup in Pakistan, had indicated that some thought needed to go into the scheduling of matches since the workload on players had increased steadily.
His outburst in Karachi quickly received support from India coach Gary Kirsten.
On Mumbai on Tuesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s administrator, Prof Ratnakar Shetty confirmed that Dhoni had sought the break.
"Yes, he has told the board that he would like to rest for the Test series against Sri Lanka," Shetty said soon after the Test team for the Lanka series and the probables for the Champions Trophy were named. The board put one a one-liner on his absence from the Test squad.
"M.S. Dhoni had conveyed his request to skip the Test series to the selectors. He has accordingly been rested for the series," the BCCI said in a statement after the selection committee meeting.
In a sense, it was only to be expected.
Dhoni has been on the field non-stop since leading India to the T20 world championship. Even before that he was on the victorious tour of England and since returning from South Africa, where India beat Pakistan in the T20 final.
That was followed by home series against South Africa and Pakistan and long and gruelling tour of Australia, where he led the side to a first-ever ODI win Down Under.
The Indian Premier League will have taken its toll as well where he led the Chennai Super Kings all the way to the finals, playing all their 16 matches.
Reacting to the ODI skipper’s stand that players needed a break, the BCCI said that cricketers were welcome to stand down if they so desired. Dhoni quickly took the opportunity. "In India and the sub-continent in general, we have a full year of cricket and there’s no off-season," he said.
"It’s tough for cricketers. When we want rest, we should get it.
"The Indian board has said we can take a break whenever we want, which I think is a very good policy," he said.
Since 2007, Dhoni has appeared in 14 Test matches, 56 ODIs and eight T20 internationals, all adding up to a whopping four and a half months of time on the field in just over 18 months.
In his absence, Dinesh Karthik is likely to be the number one wicketkeeper, though Parthiv Patel has also been included in the side, to be led by Anil Kumble, Karthik last played in the third Test at Bangalore against Pakistan in December, which Dhoni had to skip with an ankle injury.
The Tamil Nadu gloveman has been used as an opener in Test matches in Bangladesh and England last year, and in the home Tests against Pakistan.
He was in the squad for the Australia tour, but sat out all four Tests.
Courtesy : www.asianage.com