Dhoni retires from Tests with immediate effect

India

Cricket365
December 30, 2014

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect, and will not complete the Test series against Australia after losing the series.

The third Test was drawn in Melbourne on Tuesday, giving the Aussies the series win by two games with one to play, and Dhoni's news was announced an hour later. As such, Virat Kohli will lead the side in Sydney in the final game.

The BCCI statement read: "One of India's greatest Test captains under whose leadership India became the number one team in the Test rankings, MS Dhoni has decided to retire from Test cricket citing the strain of playing all formats of cricket.

"MS Dhoni has chosen to retire from Test cricket with immediate effect in order to concentrate on ODI and T20 formats.

"BCCI, while respecting the decision of MS Dhoni to retire from Test cricket, wishes to thank him for his enormous contribution to Test cricket and the laurels that he has brought to India."

Dhoni captained the side 61 times in Tests, and played 90 Tests. He ends with a batting average of 38.09, and scored six centuries. He also added 33 half tons to the records, and was often the stabilising influence at the end of a knock.