Decision on my future as captain will be taken by BCCI: Dhoni

Indian limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today side-stepped the intense speculation on his future as captain of the side by saying that it is for the BCCI to take a call on the matter. “It’s not that I don’t enjoy the game, this decision will be taken by the BCCI, it’s not up to me to decide on that,” said Dhoni in the press conference before the team’s departure for a limited-overs series against Zimbabwe starting June 11.

Dhoni was responding to former Team Director Ravi Shastri’s recent comment backing Test captain Virat Kohli to lead the country in all formats of the game. Shastri had said that Dhoni should be allowed to enjoy the game free of captaincy.

Dhoni has retired from Test cricket but is continuing to play ODIs and T20 Internationals.

Guarded on queries regarding his own future, Dhoni answered quite elaborately when asked about the kind of person he would like to see as India’s next coach.

Dhoni said the new coach should have a good understanding of the culture here even if he is not too fluent in Hindi, a criteria listed by the BCCI in its advertisement for applicants.

“Communication is not a big problem. We have seen English is not a big barrier with new players. I feel talking in Hindi can be a criterion, but should not be the only criteria. The best man should be selected,” said Dhoni.

“We keep playing a lot. We have to see the best option and one of the most important thing is whoever understands our culture and upbringing, more than English or Hindi. We have seen whoever we consider as best in the past has understood our culture,” he said.

Dhoni said motivating himself to play for the country, which will be engaged in Test cricket for most of this year, has never been a problem and the most important factor was fitness.