Kolkata: Saluting his decision to retire from Test cricket, former India captain Kapil Dev on Tuesday said Mahendra Singh Dhoni has given everybody, including the chair-greedy administrators, a food for thought with his bold step.
“You could have easily played 200 Tests. We could not do it what you have done by saying ‘goodbye, I’ve done my best and let the next generation come out’. That’s why I say ‘Dhoni well done, you’re my man’,” Kapil Dev said during his address at the 4th Tiger Pataudi Memorial Lecture, organised by The Telegraph.
“Dhoni you’re a great guy. You have served the country so well. He has done a good thing. A lot of people said he should have played at least 100 Tests. I think he has given us a new thought. You don’t have to play throughout your life. You should retire when you think the next generation is coming,” he said.
Quoting Aussie great Greg Chappell, he further said, “He had said one thing which I admire. Any cricketer who plays longer than his time, kills the next three generation. It’s a thought I truly admire.” Taking a dig at the cricket administrators, Kapil Dev said, “I hope in cricket, the people will learn from it and not stick to their chairs for 30 years or lifetime.”(PTI)
