Former India speedster RP Singh has spilled the beans about how MS Dhoni almost quit captaincy to play him over Irfan Pathan, This happened in came in 2008 during a selection meeting which has controversially leaked.
As per a report in 2008, the selectors had’ decided to replace RP Singh with Irfan Pathan, something that Dhoni wasn’t in favor of. It was said that MSD threatened to quit captaincy and went against the selectors’ choice to play RP Singh in the next two matches.
Recalling the incident, RP Singh said that Dhoni was not biased and always picked the right players. HE shared how Dhoni was unfazed by the leak and shared how MS choose players in the team whom he believed would follow the plans better.
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RP Singh said, “I don’t think I was affected by the leak. The England series we are talking about, I didn’t get a wicket in Indore. Obviously people think they will get 2 or 3 more chances. But it was not meant to be. Some get 5 chances, some get 10 chances the lucky ones.”
He added, “We [Dhoni and I] had a discussion about where I could improve, what I can do to get better. I know MS Dhoni. Friendship is a different thing, but leading the country is different altogether. At that moment, I think he pushed the ones who he thought were better. I think he pushed people whom he thought would follow the plans better.”
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RP Singh was also a part of Dhoni’s young brigade that lifted the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. Singh applauded Dhoni’s and decision making and unbiased opinions. He admitted that his speed and swing had decreased which lead to him being dropped from the team.
“This is why MS Dhoni is MS Dhoni today. His unbiased opinions on cricket and decision making. I didn’t play as much as I should have because maybe my speed dipped and my swing dipped. Everything else is secondary. If I had improved then, I would have played more. But I am happy with whatever I achieved,” he added.
