MS Dhoni is hailed as arguably India’s greatest-ever captain. The Ranchi-born dynamic yet calm and composed wicket-keeper batsman captained India to three ICC titles – 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy and is the only captain to win these three tournaments – and he also led the Test side to the top of ICC rankings in 2009/10 season.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is commended by his teammates and ex-cricketers for giving full backing to his players and handing them a long rope.
However, and with no surprises given his long tenure at the helm of Indian cricket, there were a few players who, as they felt or some fans feel, were not given their due. These players may have been discarded a bit too early even by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Here are 3 Indian players who were unfairly cast aside by MS Dhoni:
Manoj Tiwary
Manoj Tiwary is a story of unfulfilled potential in international cricket. Thhe Bengal batsman featured in 12 ODIs between 2008 and 2015 hitting one century and one fifty, but was not given much chances to further his credentials. Tiwary has often publically lamented not getting a longer rope compared under Mahendra Singh Dhoni to some other batters.
Irfan Pathan
A key member of India’s 2007 T20 WC winning team, despite being as well-established, successful all-rounder Irfan Pathan was unfairly petered out from the Indian team. He was only 28 years old when he played his last ODI for India in 2012, and even in that, he picked up a 5-wicket haul, but shockingly never played another ODI.
He was part of the 2013 Champions Trophy squad but surprisingly didn’t play in the tournament despite him being known for his swing bowling. Pathan was also kept on the bench for most of the IPL seasons under Dhoni with CSK in 2015 and RPSG in 2016.
Years later, Irfan Pathan also took an indirect dig at Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Twitter, writing, “Age is just a number for some and for others a reason to be dropped…”
Robin Uthappa
It remains one of the most upsetting things that Robin Uthappa couldn’t have a long India career. A very stylish and aggressive batsman, Robin Uthappa, who starred for India in 2007 T20 WC and 2008 CB Series triumph in Australia, was subjected to the bench later on and then couldn’t get a spot in the series leading up to the 2011 World Cup.
He didn’t get to play a single ODI between 2009 and 2013. Then only on the back of scintillating IPL performances for KKR, Uthappa returned in 2014 but after a few appearances, he was dropped again.
